young Shawanoe leaped upon his back and the steed immediately
stood on all-fours.

"Now, my friend, show them what you can do in the way of running."

The incident had taken only a few moments, but brief as was the time it
had allowed the Assiniboines to decrease the space between them and the
Shawanoe. Singular as it seemed, they still failed to hurry. They held
their horses at a walk, and Deerfoot for the first time began to
suspect the truth.

Whirlwind was off with the speed of the wind. His motion gave pain to
the rider, but it was less than when he stood with one foot on the
ground. So long as he had the steed under him he felt little cause for
fear.

The theory which had suddenly assumed shape in the mind of Deerfoot was
that the pursuers wished to hold him in the ravine while another party
passed around to the other entrance. He would thus be placed between
two fires and his position made tenfold more perilous than ever. It may
be said that if this trick succeeded the doom of both Deerfoot and
Whirlwind would be sealed.

And it was precisely the stratagem which the Assiniboines had
attempted.

It will now be understood why the Shawanoe sent his steed flying up the
gorge at such a tremendous burst of speed that he rapidly drew away
from the group behind him. He meant to get out of the ravine before he
was shut off in front. No doubt longer remained that it was open at no
great distance in advance.

The space was less than a third of a mile after making the last turn.
Deerfoot would have been glad had it been greater, for that much more
opportunity would be given for the use of the stallion's fleetness.

The Shawanoe descried the open door. The walls fell away, leaving an
interval of a hundred yards between, the bottom of the ravine slightly
ascended, the ridges gradually dropped to the level of the earth, and
the country was spread out as before he rode into the canyon the night
previous.

From the back of the flying steed Deerfoot kept his eye on the space,
expecting every moment to see the other Assiniboines dash into view and
sweep down upon him. He had fixed his line of action. He would charge
straight at them, even if they numbered a dozen, using first his rifle
and then his knife, should a chance present itself to bring the latter
into play.

With every bound of Whirlwind the hopes of his rider rose. It looked as
if the race had been won by the superb stallion. A few more strides and
all his e