“I thought of diluting it with water,” Steve answered, his voice troubled, too.

“Did you have much of a job getting the cut cleaned?”

“A little,” was all Steve said.

Pitch knew it had been more difficult than Steve would admit. It was one thing to stroke the stallion and another to cleanse his lacerated flesh. “Let’s have some breakfast,” he finally said with attempted lightness. “I’m sure hungry.”

While Pitch boiled the water, Steve opened a can of ham and prepared the powdered eggs. They spoke little while breakfast was being cooked, and it was only when they were eating that Pitch said, “I suppose you want to stay here with him.” He didn’t wait for Steve’s reply, but went on. “I thought I’d go back to Blue Valley. There are some caves I’d like to look into. Wouldn’t be surprised at what I might find in them.”

“But we were going to …” Steve paused, then continued in a steady voice, “… we were going to look for the way back to the dory.”

“That can wait awhile,” Pitch returned. “Or I might even stumble on it.” He smiled as he saw the concern on Steve’s face. “And don’t think for a moment that I’ll get lost again. I guess we’ve both learned our lesson on that score. I’m not taking any chances, Steve, so don’t you worry about me. I still have the chalk, and I’ll be able to mark every inch of the way if I happen to go into any of those tunnels. No more arrows like the last time. And I’ll have burning torches this time—they don’t break.” He laughed before adding, “But I probably won’t even look for the way back, Steve. As I said, there’s plenty to find in those caves near the waterfall to keep me busy.”

“But Pitch—”

“You’d only slow me down, Steve,” Pitch interrupted. “I can save time by going alone. And after all, you’re more interested in Flame than in anything I might find. You have your work, Steve—I have mine. Let it go at that.”

Steve studied Pitch for several minutes before saying, “I’ll be back at the cliff tonight, Pitch.” Then he dropped his eyes to the food in front of him as he said, almost inaudibly, “Thanks, Pitch.”

They had finished breakfast and were washing the pots when Pitch spoke again. “I’ll wait until you put the iodine on him. You might need some help.”

Steve turned and looked at his horse, who was now grazing some distance away. “I wonder,” he began, then stopped, going to the first-aid kit.

He poured some of the iodine into a pot and added water. “You think that’s enough, Pitch?”