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296 LavuceHING Boy very hungry as he tracked his pony. The animal greeted him with a whinny; its legs were stiff from the hobbles, and it had fallen off from lack of feed. He rode back to the camp, and tethered it while he broke his fast with coffee. Then he saddled and mounted. Before he rode on he turned towards the niche and sat still until his mount jerked at the reins. But we shall never be far from each other, he thought, always alone but never lonely. As he rode away he repeated, ‘In beauty it is finished, in beauty it is finished, in beauty it is finished. Thanks.’ 11 It was nearly dark when he climbed out of the head of the cafion onto the top of So Selah Mesa. He urged his pony along the level going, anxious to get to the settlement in Jaabani Valley as soon as possible. There was only a day-old moon, and a cold wind blew across the open. It was a talk- ing wind, a voice of sorrow in the growing dark- ness, and Laughing Boy had been too long alone. He wanted a respite from self-communion; he wanted company and things happening, the old life, support. He was homesick for old, familiar things. This cold plateau was nowhere, a waste land