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and the half-frightened, half-serious talk into which Consuelo and I had insensibly fallen.And then, I don't know how it happened, but as we reached the summit Chu Chusuddenly reared, wheeled, and the next moment was flying back along the road we hadjust traveled, at the top of her speed! It might have been that, after her abstracted fashion,she only at that moment detected my presence; but so sudden and complete was herevolution that before I could regain my horse from the astonished Enriquez she wasalready a quarter of a mile on the homeward stretch, with the frantic Consuelo pullinghopelessly at the bridle.We started in pursuit. But a horrible despair seized us. To attempt to overtake her, even tofollow at the same rate of speed would only excite Chu Chu and endanger Consuelo'slife. There was absolutely no help for it, nothing could be done; the mare had taken herdetermined, long, continuous stride, the road was a straight, steady descent all the wayback to the village, Chu Chu had the bit between her teeth, and there was no prospect ofswerving her. We could only follow hopelessly, idiotically, furiously, until Chu Chudashed triumphantly into the Saltellos' courtyard, carrying the half-fainting Consueloback to the arms of her assembled and astonished family.It was our last ride together. It was the last I ever saw of Consuelo before her transfer tothe safe seclusion of a convent in Southern California. It was the last I ever saw of ChuChu, who in the confusion of that rencontre[172-1] was overlooked in her half-loosed