ty feet to the rock
below. "On! On!" yelled Raven, emptying his gun into the struggling
animal as he passed. More and more difficult became the road until at
length it was impossible to keep up the pace.

"We cannot make it! We cannot make it!" muttered Raven with bitter
oaths. "Oh, the cursed fools! Another two miles would do it!"

At length they came to a spot where the trail touched a level bench.

"Halt!" yelled the trader, as he galloped to the head of the column.
A few minutes he spent in rapid and fierce consultation with Little
Thunder and then came raging back. "We are going to get this bunch down
into the valley there," he shouted, pointing to the thick timber at the
bottom. "I do not expect your help, but I ask you to remain where
you are for the present. And let me assure you this is no moment for
trifling."

With extraordinary skill and rapidity Little Thunder managed to lead
first the pack ponies and then the others, one by one, at intervals,
off the trail as they went onward, taking infinite pains to cover their
tracks at the various points of departure. While this was being done the
trader stood shouting directions and giving assistance with a fury of
energy that seemed to communicate itself to the very beasts. But the
work was one of great difficulty and took many minutes to accomplish.

"Half an hour more, just half an hour! Fifteen minutes!" he kept
muttering. "Just a short fifteen minutes and all would be well."

As the last pony disappeared into the woods Raven turned to Cameron and
with a smile said quietly,

"There, that's done. Now you are free. Here we part. This is your trail.
It will take you to Macleod. I am sorry, however, that owing to a change
in circumstances for which I am not responsible I must ask you for that
rifle." With the swiftness of a flash of light he whipped his gun into
Cameron's face. "Don't move!" he said, still smiling. "This gun of mine
never fails. Quick, don't look round. Yes, those hoof beats are our
friends the police. Quick! It is your life or mine. I'd hate to kill
you, Cameron. I give you one chance more."

There was no help for it, and Cameron, with his heart filled with futile
fury, surrendered his rifle.

"Now ride in front of me a little way. They have just seen us, but they
don't know that we are aware of their presence. Ride! Ride! A little
faster!" Nighthawk rushed upon Cameron's lagging pony. "There, that's
better."

A shout fell upon their ears