 
two nights later, danny went out to tell his horse good night. 
he saw her standing away from the herd, all by herself. 
she was very quiet as if she had expected him to come. 
"she knows me!" thought danny. 
"she knows me now." 
the mare had never been friendly with danny, but he thought she acted 
friendly now. 
as he came closer, he saw that someone else was standing beside the mare. 
it was a boy. 
an indian boy! 
"what are you doing here?" danny called out. 
"i"ve come to see my horse," said the indian boy. 
"your horse? 
she isn"t. 
she's not branded," said danny. 
"this is my horse, star fire," the indian said. 
"see how she knows me?" 
the black mare was rubbing the indian's hand with her nose. 
she stood quietly as he petted and stroked her. 
"but, but, you didn"t brand her," danny gasped. 
"i didn"t brand star fire," said the indian boy. 
"a brand doesn"t make her mine. 
friendship makes her mine. 
she will always be mine no matter where she goes." 
danny felt very sad. 
he knew that the mare must belong to the indian because she was so 
friendly with him. 
she would never let danny pet her. 
"what's your name?" asked danny. 
"i am eagle," said the indian. 
"what do they call you?" 
"danny," said danny. 
there was so much love in the way eagle petted star fire that danny was no 
longer afraid. 
"did you miss her while she was gone?" he asked. 
eagle nodded his head. 
"i want star fire home again." 
