k the climax of this ride of horrors. She wondered if it would
hurt, or would merciful unconsciousness come with the first impact of
the fall.

Suddenly she opened her eyes. She sensed a change in the rumble of
hoofs. Horses surged together and the pace slackened from a wild rush
to a wilder thrashing of uncertainty. In the forefront a thin red
spurt of flame leaped forth and above the pounding hoofs rang the
report of a shot. The leaders seemed to have stopped and the main body
of the herd pressed and struggled against the unyielding front. Other
spurts of flame pierced the night, and shots rang viciously from all
sides. The horses were milling, churning, about in a huge maelstrom,
in which Patty found herself being slowly forced to the outside as the
unencumbered free horses crowded to the center away from the
terrifying stabs of flame and the crack of guns. She could see a
mounted form before her. Evidently it was the man who had ridden in
the forefront of the herd. The rider was very close, now, his horse
keeping pace with her own which had nearly reached the outer rim of
the churning mass of animals. The brim of his hat shadowed his face
but Patty could see that the gauntleted hand held a six-gun. A shift
of position brought the moonlight full upon the man's front--upon a
scarf of robin's-egg blue caught together at the throat with the
polished tip of buffalo horn. No other horsemen were in sight, but an
occasional sharp report sounded from the opposite side of the herd.
"Vil!" she screamed. "Vil Holland!" The form stiffened in the saddle
and the girl caught the flash of his eyes beneath the hat brim. The
next instant the gun had given place to a heavy quirt in his hand, his
tall, rangy horse plunged straight toward her, the wild horses,
crowding frenziedly to escape the blows as the rider lashed furiously
to the right and to the left as he forced his mount to her side.

"Good God! Girl, what are you doing here? I thought you were one of
them--and I nearly--" The man leaned suddenly forward and grasped the
bit-chain of her bridle. As if knowing exactly what was expected of
them, side by side the two horses fought their way free of the herd,
the big buckskin with ears laid back, snapping viciously at the
crowding horses. A six-gun roared twice. Patty felt a sudden brush of
air against her cheek and the next instant the two horses plunged down
the steep side of a narrow ravine. In the bottom the man released her
br