no chance to escape; for their pursuers are closing after them in a
cloud, dark as the dreaded "norther" that sweeps over the Texan desert,
with shout symbolising the clangour that accompanies it.

CHAPTER TEN.

A BRAVE STEED ABANDONED.

In making his bold dash, Walt Wilder was not acting without a
preconceived plan. He had one. The smoke, with its covering cloud,
might be the means of concealment, and ultimate salvation; at all
events, it would cover their retreat long enough to give them a start of
the pursuers, and then the speed of their horses might possibly be
depended upon for the rest.

They at first followed this plan, but unfortunately soon found that it
would not long avail them. The smoke was not drifting in the right
direction. The breeze carried it almost straight towards the line of
the cliffs, while their only chance was to strike for the open plain.
At the cliffs their flight would be stopped.

So far the smoke had favoured them. Thick and stifling in the immediate
vicinity of the waggons, it enabled them to slip unobserved through the
ruck of savages. Many of these, still mounted, had seen them pass
outward, but through the blue film had mistaken them for two of their
own men. They perhaps knew nothing of there having been horses inside
the corral, and did not expect to see any of their caged enemies
attempting to escape in that way. Besides, they were now busy
endeavouring to extinguish the fires, all resistance being at an end.

As yet there was no sign of pursuit, and the fugitives rode up with the
projecting _nimbus_ around them. In the soft sand their horses' hoofs
made no noise, and they galloped towards the cliff silent as spectres.

On reaching its base, it became necessary for them either to change the
direction of their flight, or bring it to a termination. The bluff
towered vertically above them, like a wall of rude masonwork. A cat
could not have scaled it, much less horse, or man. They did not think
of making the attempt.

And now, what were they to do? Ride out from the smoke-cloud, or remain
under its favouring shelter? In either case they were sure of being
discovered and pursued. It would soon clear off, and they would be seen
from the waggons. Already it was fast thinning around them; the Indians
having nearly extinguished the fires in order to save the treasure,
which had no doubt been their chief object for attacking the caravan.
Soon there would be no