ey a world of hope. Here are friends, whose
enemies are his own. And they are in strength sufficient to pursue
Uraga's troop and destroy it. They may overtake it that very night; if
not, on the morrow. And if not then, they will pursue it to the borders
of New Mexico--to the banks of the Del Norte itself.

His heart is no more depressed. The chance of rescuing his friends from
death and saving his betrothed from dishonour is no longer hopeless.
There is now a probability--almost a certainty--of its success. Backed
by Wilder, he proposes instant pursuit.

To the Texans the proposal is like an invitation to a ball or frontier
fandango. Excitement is the breath of their life, and a fight with
Mexicans their joy; a pursuit of these their supremest delight. Such as
this, moreover, having for its object not only the defeat of a hated
foe, but the recovery of captives, beautiful women, as their old comrade
Walt enthusiastically describes them, is the very thing to rouse the
Rangers to energetic action, rekindling in their hearts the spirit of
frontier chivalry--the same which led them to become Rangers.

Notwithstanding their wild enthusiasm they do not proceed rashly.
Haynes, their captain, is an old "Indian fighter," one of the most
experienced chiefs of that Texan border warfare, so long continued.

Checking their impatience to pursue at once, he counsels prudence and
deliberate action. Cully also recommends this course.

"But why should we lose a moment?" inquires the hot-blooded Kentuckian,
chafing at the delay; "they cannot yet be more than ten miles off. We
may overtake them before sunset."

"That's just what we mustn't do," rejoins the Ranger chief. "Suppose
they get sight of us before we're near? On the naked plain, you say it
is, they'd be sure to do that. What then? Their horses, I take it, are
fresh, compared with ours. They might gallop off and leave us gazing
after them like so many April fools. They'd have time, too, to take
their prisoners along with them."

This last speech makes an impression upon all. Even Hamersley no longer
offers opposition.

"Let the sun go down," continues the Texan captain; "that's just what we
want. Since they're bound due west I reckon we can easily keep on their
trail, clear night or dark one. Here's Nat Cully can do that; and if
our friend Walt hasn't lost his old skill he can be trusted for the
same."

The Ranger and ex-Ranger, both standing by, remain