be accomplished? Out from
the mists of tortured memory came, as a faint hope, a dim recollection
of that narrow gully cutting straight down across the trail, over which
the runaway had crashed in full gallop. That surely could not be far
back, and was of sufficient depth to hide them in the darkness. He was
uncertain how far it extended, but at some time it had been a
water-course and must have reached the river. And the river would hide
their trail! A new hope sprang into his eyes. He felt the sudden
straightening up of his body.

"What--what is it?" she questioned, startled. "Do you see anything?
Are they coming?"

"No, no," almost impatiently. "It is still as death out there, but I
almost believe I have discovered a means of escape. Do you remember a
gully we ran over while I was on top of the stage?"

"I am not sure; was it when that awful jolt came?"

"Yes, it flung me to the foot-board just when I had untangled the
lines. We could not have travelled a dozen yards farther before we
struck this bluff--could we?"

"I hardly think so," yet evidently bewildered by his rapid questioning.
"Only I was so confused and frightened I can scarcely remember. Why
are you so anxious to know?"

"Because," he returned earnestly, bending toward her, "I believe that
gash in the earth is going to get us out of here. Anyhow it is the
only chance I can figure. If we can creep through to the river,
undiscovered, I 'll agree to leave Mister Indian guessing as to where
we 've gone."

The new note of animation in the man's voice aroused her, but she
grasped his arm tighter.

"But--but, oh, can we? Won't they be hiding there too?"

"It's a chance, that's all--but better than waiting here for a
certainty. See here, Miss McDonald," and he caught her hand in his
own, forgetful of all save his own purpose and the necessity of
strengthening her to play out the game, "the trend of that gulf is to
the west; except up here close to the bluff it runs too far away for a
guard line. The Indians will be lying out here on the open prairie;
they will creep as close in as they dare under cover of darkness. I
'll bet there are twenty red snakes now within a hundred feet of
us--oh, don't shiver and lose your nerve! They 'll not try to close
that gap yet; it's too dangerous with us on guard and only one side of
the coach exposed. That fellow was trying us out a while ago, and they
've kept quiet ever since I let drive at him. T