But the two were now galloping northward at full
speed.

"Good work, Ned, my lad," cried Obed. "I didn't have time to see what
you shot, but I heard the yell and I knew it must have been a Lipan."

"He was stalking us, a scout, I suppose, and I just got a glimpse of him
behind a yucca. I hit him."

"Good eyes and good hand. You saved us. They must have struck our trail
in some manner during the night and then they thought they had us. Ah,
they still think they have us!"

The last remark was drawn by a shout and another spatter of shots. Two
or three bullets struck alarmingly close, and they increased the speed
of their horses, while the Lipans urged their ponies to their best.

"They're too eager," said Obed. "It's time to give them a hint that
their company is not wanted."

He wheeled and executed with success that most difficult of feats, a
running shot. A Lipan fell from his horse, and the others drew back a
little for fear of Ned, the second marksman.

"They've taken the hint," said Obed grimly, as he accomplished a second
difficult feat, that of reloading his rifle while they were at full
gallop. The Lipans did not utter another war cry, but settled down into
a steady pursuit.

"I think I'll try a shot, Obed," said Ned.

"All right," said Obed, "but be sure that you hit something. Never waste
a good bullet on empty air."

Ned fired. He missed the Lipan at whom he aimed, but he killed the pony
the warrior was riding. The Indian leaped on the pony that had been
ridden by the warrior slain by Obed and continued in the group of
pursuers. Ned looked somewhat chagrined, and Obed noticed it.

"You did very well, Ned," he said. "Of course, no one likes to kill a
horse, but it's the horses that bring on the Lipans, and the fewer
horses they have the better for us."

Ned also reloaded as they galloped and then said:

"Don't you think they're dropping back a little?"

"Yes, they want to keep out of range. They know that our rifles carry
farther than theirs, and they will not take any more risk until they
finally corner us, of which they feel sure."

"But of which we are not so sure."

"No, and we are going to be hidden from them, for a while, by something.
You haven't noticed, Ned, that the country is rapidly growing much
worse, and that we are now in what is practically a sandy desert. You
don't see even a yucca, but you do see something whirling there in the
southwest. That's a 'dust devil,' and there's