l for them, but about noon they came to a
little pool, lying in a dip or hollow between the swells. It was perhaps
fifty feet either way, less than a foot deep and the water was yellowish
in color, but it contained no alkali nor any other bitter infusion.
Moreover, grass grew around its edges and some wild ducks swam on its
surface. It would have been a good place for a camp and they would have
stayed there gladly had it not been for that threat which always hung on
the southern horizon.

The water was warm, but the horses drank deeply, and Ned and Obed
refilled their bottles. The stop enabled the pursuing Lipans to come
within a mile of them, but, moving away at an increased pace, they began
to lengthen the gap.

"The Lipans will stop and water their ponies and themselves just as we
have done," said Obed. "Everything that we have to endure they have to
endure, too. It's a poor rule that doesn't work for one side as well as
the other."

"It would all look like play," said Ned, "if we didn't know that it was
so much in earnest. Just as you said, Obed, they're stopping to drink at
the pond."

A shadow seemed to pass between himself and the blazing glare of the
sun. He looked up. It was a shadow thrown by a great bird, with black
wings, flying low. Others of the same kind circled higher. Ned saw with
a shiver that they were vultures. Obed saw them, too, and he also saw
Ned's face pale a little.

"You take it as an omen," he said, "and maybe it is, but it's a poor
omen that won't work both ways. They're flying back now towards the
Indians, so I guess the Lipans had better look out."

Nevertheless, both were depressed by the appearance of the vultures and
the heat that afternoon grew more intense than ever. The horses, at
last, began to show signs of weariness, but Ned reflected that for every
mile they traveled the Lipans must travel one also, and he recalled the
words of Obed that chance might come to their aid.

Another night followed, clear and bright, with the great stars dancing
in the southern skies, and Ned and Obed rode long after nightfall. Again
the Lipans sank from sight, and, as before, the two stopped on one of
the swells.

"Now, Obed," said Ned, "it is your time to sleep and mine to watch. I
submitted last night and you must submit to-night. You know that you
can't go on forever without sleep."

"Your argument is good," said Obed, "and I yield. It isn't worth while
for me to tell you to watch well,