of grass, a straw.

As they now ascended the rock-strewn gorge both had their reflections,
which, though unspoken, were very similar. And from these came a gleam
of hope. If they could but reach the summit-level of the cliff! Their
pursuers could, of course, do the same; but not on horseback. It would
then be a contest of pedestrian speed. The white men felt confidence in
their swiftness of foot; in this respect believing themselves superior
to their savage pursuers. They knew that the Comanches were horse
Indians--a significant fact. These centaurs of the central plateaux,
scarce ever setting foot upon the earth, when afoot are almost as
helpless as birds with their wings plucked or pinioned.

If they could reach the crest of the cliff, then all might yet be well;
and, cheered by this reflection, they rushed up the rock-strewn ravine,
now gliding along ledges, now squeezing their bodies between great
boulders, or springing from one to the other--in the audacity of their
bounds rivalling a brace of bighorns.

They had got more than half-way up, when cries came pealing up the glen
behind them. Still were they hidden from the eyes of the pursuers.
Jutting points of rock and huge masses that lay loose in the bed of the
ravine had hitherto concealed them. But for these, bullets and arrows
would have already whistled about their ears, and perhaps put an end to
their flight. The savages were near enough to send either gun-shot or
shaft, and their voices, borne upward on the air, sounded as clear as if
they were close at hand.

The fugitives, as already said, had reached more than halfway up the
slope, and were beginning to congratulate themselves on the prospect of
escape. They even thought of the course they should take on arriving at
the summit-level, for they knew that there was an open plain above. All
at once they were brought to a stop, though not by anything that
obstructed their path. On the contrary, it only seemed easier; for
there were now two ways open to them instead of one, the ravine at this
point forking into two distinct branches. There was a choice of which
to take, and it was this that caused them to make a stop, at the same
time creating embarrassment.

The pause, however, was but for a brief space of time--only long enough
to make a hasty reconnoissance. In the promise of an easy ascent there
seemed but little difference between the two paths, and the guide soon
came to a determination