ound themselves treading short dead mesquit that did not greatly
obstruct their progress.

"Keep going," Wilfred said, when she paused for breath. "It wouldn't
do for our horses to whinny, for those fellows would hear them if it
was thundering. Give me your hand."

"Here it is," Lahoma felt about in the darkness. "My! but I'm glad
I've got you, Wilfred! Oh, how they are dashing along! Listen how the
man is lashing his whip over those four horses. Wish we could see
'em--must be grand, tearing along at that rate!"

The stage was rapidly coming up abreast of them, and Wilfred felt her
grasp tighten. There was a flash of lights, a glimpse of the driver's
face as of creased leather as he raised his whip above his head--then
noise and cloud of dust passed on and the lights became trailing sparks
that in a minute or two the wind seemed to blow out.

"My poor Brick!" Lahoma wailed. "Do you think he'll take good enough
care of himself from what I wrote in my letters? But no, he doesn't
think Red Kimball is coming yet, for I didn't know it till after I'd
written. He's with Bill now, waiting for another letter. Or for a
telegram."

"No, no, Lahoma," Wilfred tried to sooth her. "He has been hiding for
days. Why should he come out just at the wrong time? You wrote that
you'd not send any more messages. Brick will be on the lookout for
Kimball. He is sure to be watching out for him."

"I know Brick," Lahoma protested, seemingly all at once overcome by the
fatigues of her journey and the hopelessness of the situation. "I was
afraid he wouldn't agree to hide at all; and just as soon as you came
away, and there wasn't any more prospects of letters, he'd get
lonesome, and tire of staying away from home. He's in that cove this
minute, and he'll be there when Red Kimball takes the sheriff after
him." Her voice quivered with distress.

"Don't be afraid, Lahoma," urged Wilfred, slipping his arm protectingly
about her. "Don't grieve--I'm sure Brick is in a safe place."

"Well, I'M not in danger," said Lahoma, with-drawing from his
involuntary embrace. "Don't take ME for Brick! Maybe you're
right--but no, I'm sure he wouldn't be willing to stay out in the
mountains week after week--and during these cold nights! For it is
cold, right now. We must hurry on, Wilfred."

"There's one comfort," said Wilfred, as they retraced their way toward
the trail. "Mr. Gledware won't appear as a witness against Brick.
We'll get