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suited him to follow that trail at a rapid trot。 If he lost the tracks for a
distance he went right on； and he knew where to look for them ahead。 There was
a vast difference between the cunning of Creech and the cunning of a wild
horse。 And there was an equal difference between the going and staying powers
of Creech's mustangs and Wildfire。 Yes； Slone divined that Lucy's salvation
would be Wildfire； her horse。 The trail grew rougher； steeper； harder； but the
stallion kept his eagerness and his pace。 On many an open length of canyon or
height of wild upland Slone gazed ahead hoping to see Creech's mustangs。 He
hoped for that even when he knew he was still too far behind。 And then；
suddenly； in the open； sandy flat of an intersecting canyon he came abruptly
on a fresh trail of three horses； one of them shod。
The surprise stunned him。 For a moment he gazed stupidly at these strange
tracks。 Who had made them？ Had Creech met allies？ Was that likely when the man
had no friends？ Pondering the thing； Slone went slowly on； realizing that a
new and disturbing feature confronted him。 Then when these new tracks met the
trail that Creech had left Slone found that these strangers were as interested
in Creech's tracks as he was。 Slone found their boot…marks in the sandthe
hand…prints where some one had knelt to scrutinize Creech's trail。
Slone led his horse and walked on； more and more disturbed in mind。 When he
came to a larger； bare； flat canyon bottom； where the rock had been washed
clear of sand； he found no more cedar berries。 They had been picked up。 At the
other extreme edge of this stony ground he found crumpled bits of cedar and
cedar berries scattered in one spot； as if thrown there by some one who read
their meaning。
This discovery unnerved Slone。 It meant so much。 And if Slone had any hope or
reason to doubt that these strangers had taken up the trail for good； the next
few miles dispelled it。 They were trailing Creech。
Suddenly Slone gave a wild start； which made Wildfire plunge。
〃CORDTS！〃 whispered Slone and the cold sweat oozed out of every pore。
These canyons were the hiding…places of the horse…thief。 He and two of his men
had chanced upon Creech's trail； and perhaps their guess at its meaning was
like Slone's。 If they had not guessed they would soon learn。 It magnified
Slone's task a thousandfold。 He had a moment of bitter； almost hopeless
realization before a more desperate spirit awoke in him。 He had only more men
to killthat was all。 These upland riders did not pack rifles； of that Slone
was sure。 And the sooner he came up with Cordts the better。 It was then he let
Wildfire choose his gait and the trail。 Sunset； twilight； dusk； and darkness
came with Slone keeping on and on。 As long as there were no intersecting
canyons or clefts or slopes by which Creech might have swerved from his
course； just so long Slone would travel。 And it was late in the night when he
had to halt。
Early next day the trail led up out of the red and broken gulches to the
cedared uplands。 Slone saw a black…rimmed； looming plateau in the distance。
All these winding canyons； and the necks of the high ridges between； must run
up to that great table…land。
That day he lost two of the horse tracks。 He did not mark the change for a
long time after there had been a split in the party that had been trailing
Creech。 Then it was too late for him to go back to investigate； even if that
had been wise。 He kept on； pondering； trying to decide whether or not he had
been discovered and was now in danger of ambush ahead and pursuit from behind。
He thought that possibly Cordts had split his party； one to trail along after
Creech； the others to work around to head him off。 Undoubtedly Cordts knew
this broken canyon country and could tell where Creech was going； and knew how
to intercept him。
The uncertainty wore heavily upon Slone。 He grew desperate。 He had no time to
steal along cautiously。 He must be the first to get to Creech。 So he held to
the trail and went as rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit；
expecting to be shot at from any clump of cedars。 The trail led down again
into a narrow canyon with low walls。 Slone put all his keenness on what lay
before him。
Wildfire's sudden break and upflinging of head and his snort preceded the
crack of a rifle。 Slone knew he had been shot at； although he neither felt nor
heard the bullet。 He had no chance to see where the shot came from； for
Wildfire bolted； and needed as much holding and guiding as Slone could give。
He ran a mile。 Then Slone was able to look about him。 Had he been shot at from
above or behind？ He could not tell。 It did not matter； so long as the danger
was not in front。 He kept a sharp lookout； and presently along the right
canyon rim； five hundred feet above him； he saw a bay horse； and a rider with
a rifle。 He had been wrong； then； about these riders and their weapons。 Slone
did not see any wisdom in halting to shoot up at this pursuer； and he spurred
Wildfire just as a sharp crack sounded above。 The bullet thudded into the
earth a few feet behind him。 And then over bad ground； with the stallion
almost unmanageable； Slone ran a gantlet of shots。 Evidently the man on the
rim had smooth ground to ride over； for he easily kept abreast of Slone。 But
he could not get the range。 Fortunately for Slone； broken ramparts above
checked the tricks of that pursuer； and Slone saw no more of him。
It afforded him great relief to find that Creech's trail turned into a canyon
on the left； and here； with the sun already low； Slone began to watch the
clumps of cedars and the jumbles of rock。 But he was not ambushed。 Darkness
set in； and； being tired out； he was about to halt for the night when he
caught the flicker of a campfire。 The stallion saw it； too； but did not snort。
Slone dismounted and； leading him； went cautiously forward on foot； rifle in
hand。
The canyon widened at a point where two breaks occurred； and the
less…restricted space was thick with cedar and pinyon。 Slone could tell by the
presence of these trees and also by a keener atmosphere that he was slowly
getting to a higher attitude。 This camp…fire must belong to Cordts or the one
man who had gone on ahead。 And Slone advanced boldly。 He did not have to make
up his mind what to do。
But he was amazed to see several dark forms moving to and fro before the
bright camp…fire； and he checked himself abruptly。 Considering a moment； Slone
thought he had better have a look at these fellows。 So he tied Wildfire and；
taking to the darker side of the canyon； he stole cautiously forward。
The distance was considerable； as he had calculated。 Soon； however； he made
out the shadowy outlines of horses feeding in the open。 He hugged the canyon
wall for fear they might see him。 As luck would have it the night breeze was
in his favor。 Stealthily he stole on； in the deep shadow of the wall； and
under the cedars； until he came to a point opposite the camp…fire； and then he
turned toward it。 He went slowly； carefully； noiselessly； and at last he
crawled through the narrow aisles between thick sage…brush。 Another clump of
cedars loomed up； and he saw the flickering of firelight upon the pale…green
foliage。
He heard gruff voices before he raised himself to look； and by this he gauged
his distance。 He was close enoughalmost too close。 But as he crouched in
dark shade and there were no horses near； he did not fear discovery。
When he peered out from his covert the first thing to strike and hold his
rapid glance was the slight figure of a girl。 Slone stifled a gasp in his
throat。 He thought he recognized Lucy。 Stunned； he crouched down again with
his hands clenched round his rifle。 And there he remained for a long moment of
agony before reason asserted itself over emotion。 Had he really seen Lucy？ He
had heard of a girl now and then in the camps of these men； especially Cordts。
Maybe Creech had fallen in with comrades。 No； he could not have had any
comrades there but horse…thieves； and Creech was above that。 If Creech was
there he had been held up by Cordts； if Lucy only was with the gang； Creech
had been killed。
Slone had to force himself to look again。 The girl had changed her position。
But the light shone upon the men。 Creech was not one of the three； nor Cordts；
nor any man Slone had seen before。 They were not honest men； judging from
their hard； evil looks。 Slone was nonplussed and he was losing self…control。
Again he lowered himself and waited。 He caught the word 〃Durango〃 and 〃hosses〃
and 〃fer enough in；〃 the meaning of which was； vague。 Then the girl laughed。
And Slone found himself trembling with joy。 Beyond any doubt that laugh could
not have been Lucy's。
Slone stole back as he had come； reached the shadow of the wall； and drew away
until he felt it safe to walk quickly。 When he reached the place where he
expected to find Wildfire he did not see him。 Slone looked and looked。 Perhaps
he had misjudged distance and place in the gloom。 Still； he never made
mistakes of that nature。 He searched around till he found the cedar stump to
which he had tied the lasso。 In the gloom he could not see it； and when he
reached out he did n