le for a race against Sultan, who was not even burdened by
the heavy saddle he usually bore.

So it was that Sultan steadily gained on the little mare, who was not
disposed to do her utmost even under whip and spur, which Woofer did not
spare.

They were now racing in the dark along the ridge of a deep coulee, the
wall on the right of which went down steeply to a depth of thirty or
more feet.

Ted could not see the way, but he knew that they were riding a perilous
path, and that a slip of the foot or a rolling rock might cost them
their lives.

But he knew Sultan's feet were sure, and that unless an accident which
could not be avoided took place, they were safe.

He had so gained on Woofer that he could now see him dimly outlined
against the sky in advance of him.

If it were only level ground on which he could urge Sultan, it would not
be a matter of more than a few minutes before he would be up with him.

But evidently Woofer saw him, also, for there was the flash of a
revolver, and a ball sang past Ted's head.

He dared not fire in return for fear of hitting Singing Bird.

But the race must end soon, for Ted was steadily gaining.

At length they swept down from the ridge and into the coulee, along the
level bottom of which they galloped, Sultan always edging up, closer and
closer to Magpie, who evidently was slowing down.

Now Ted spoke to Sultan and urged him for the first time, and the
gallant little beast spurted forward, and in an instant's time was
abreast of the other horse.

Ted's eyes were almost put out by a blinding flash, and there was a
deafening roar.

Woofer had placed his forty-five close to his head, leaning far out of
his saddle, and fired.

By same interposition of Providence, however, the ball went past his
head, singeing his hair, and he bent forward and struck Woofer on the
head with the butt of his own weapon.

Woofer seemed to shrink in the saddle, like a wet rag, and the Indian
girl was slipping from his arms to the ground when Ted seized her and
transferred her to his own saddle.

At the same moment the insensible form of Woofer slipped to the ground.

Feeling herself free of her burden, Magpie came to a stop, and trotted
back to where Ted was waiting for her, and rubbed noses with Sultan.

The Indian girl had been rendered unconscious by a blow on the head in
the tent, and was just recovering as Ted rescued her from a fall to the
ground.

Presently she opened her eye