of the cigarette
was glowing red, Avon stepped toward the motionless steed, passing along
the side which was furthest from his master. The beast saw him on the
instant, and gave a slight whinny and recoiled.

His master spoke sharply, while the cigarette was between his teeth. Not
suspecting the cause of his alarm, he supposed it was trifling and gave
it no attention. But when his animal, with a loud snort, wheeled and
started off on a gallop, the Indian threw down his match, called out
angrily, and, grasping his gun, sprang forward to intercept him.

It will be remembered that the darkness was more dense in the mesquite
bush than on the open prairie, and, although he caught a glimpse of the
vanishing mustang, he saw nothing of the figure on his back, for the
reason that, when the nimble youth vaulted thither, he threw himself
forward on his neck.

The Indian must have been astonished by the action of his animal, but he
probably concluded he would not wander far, and would be within reach in
the morning when needed. So he refrained from attempting anything like
pursuit, which would have been foolish under the circumstances.

It was a clever exploit on the part of Avon Burnet, and he could not
repress a feeling of exultation over the success. Boldness, dash, and
peculiarly favoring circumstances had taken him through the Comanche
lines, when a repetition of the attempt would fail ninety-nine times
out of a hundred.

But while he was justified in being grateful, there was enough serious
business still before him. He could not forget that the friends in the
cabin were in dire peril and no time ought to be wasted in bringing them
relief.

The first indispensable act was to locate himself, so as to gain an idea
of the points of the compass, without which it was beyond his power to
reach the camp of his friends.

A brief walk brought the horse out of the bush and he stood on the open
prairie. The mustang was without saddle or bridle, except a single
buffalo thong, that was twisted over his nose and by which his master
guided him. Avon had ridden the animals in the same way, and since this
mustang became tractable the instant he felt anyone on his back, such an
equestrian as the young Texan met with no difficulty whatever.

But he realized that a serious difficulty confronted him when he
attempted to locate himself. The flurry in the bush had so mixed up his
ideas of direction, that he was all at sea.

Not a star tw