Professor nodded.

"Just a prairie fire," he replied,--"very dangerous, though, these dry
seasons. The flames move so quickly that if you happen to be in a certain
position you might easily get cut off."

Laura turned her horse round.

"Come on, Professor!" she exclaimed. "That's what it is. Lenora's gone to
try and warn the others."

"She is a very brave young lady," the Professor declared, as he touched
his pony with the spurs. "All the same, Miss Laura, you take my advice and
leave that Chinaman alone."

They rode to the very edge of the tract of country which was temporarily
enveloped with smoke and flame. Here they pulled in their horses, and the
Professor looked thoughtfully through his field-glasses.

"The road straight on is the ordinary way to the depot," he said, "but, as
you can see, at the bend there it is becoming almost impassable. The thing
is, what did Lenora do? When she got as far as this, she must have seen
that further progress was dangerous."

Laura gave a little cry and pointed with her riding-whip. About twenty
yards further on, by the side of the road, was a small white object. She
cantered on, swung herself from her horse and picked it up.

"Lenora's handkerchief!" she cried.

The Professor waved his arm westward.

"Here come Quest and the Inspector. They are making a circuit to avoid the
fire. The cowboy with them must have shown them the way. We'd better hurry
up and find out if they've seen anything of Miss Lenora."

They galloped across the rough country towards the little party, who were
now clearly in sight.

"Lenora isn't with them," Laura declared anxiously, "and look--what's
that?"

From the centre of one of the burning patches they saw a riderless horse
gallop out, stop for a moment with his head almost between its fore-legs,
shake himself furiously, and gallop blindly on again.

"It's Lenora's horse!" Laura cried. "She must have been thrown. Come!"

Laura would have turned her horse, but the Professor checked her.

"Let us wait for Quest," he advised. "They are close here."

The cowboy, riding a little behind the two others, had unlimbered his
lariat, and, while they watched, swung it over his head and secured the
runaway. Quest galloped up to where Laura and the Professor were waving
frantically.

"Say, that's some fire!" Quest exclaimed. "Did you people come out to see
it?"

"No, we came to find Lenora!" Laura answered breathlessly. "That's her
horse. She st