did not seek to
make him stop, but getting a good grip on the pommel, I vaulted up
again. Once more he raced like a wild mustang. And from nearer and
nearer in front pealed the alluring sounds of the chase.

Satan was creeping close to Wallace and Jones, with Frank looming white
through the occasional pinyons. Then all dropped out of sight, to
appear again suddenly. They had reached the first break. Soon I was
upon it. Two deer ran out of the ravine, almost brushing my horse in
the haste. Satan went down and up in a few giant strides. Only the
narrow ridge separated us from another break. It was up and down then
for Satan, a work to which he manfully set himself. Occasionally I saw
Wallace and Jones, but heard them oftener. All the time the breaks grew
deeper, till finally Satan had to zigzag his way down and up.
Discouragement fastened on me, when from the summit of the next ridge I
saw Frank far down the break, with Jones and Wallace not a quarter of a
mile away from him. I sent out a long, exultant yell as Satan crashed
into the hard, dry wash in the bottom of the break.

I knew from the way he quickened under me that he intended to overhaul
somebody. Perhaps because of the clear going, or because my frenzy had
cooled to a thrilling excitement which permitted detail, I saw clearly
and distinctly the speeding horsemen down the ravine. I picked out the
smooth pieces of ground ahead, and with the slightest touch of the rein
on his neck, guided Satan into them. How he ran! The light, quick beats
of his hoofs were regular, pounding. Seeing Jones and Wallace sail high
into the air, I knew they had jumped a ditch. Thus prepared, I managed
to stick on when it yawned before me; and Satan, never slackening,
leaped up and up, giving me a new swing.

Dust began to settle in little clouds before me; Frank, far ahead, had
turned his mustang up the side of the break; Wallace, within hailing
distance, now turned to wave me a hand. The rushing wind fairly sang in
my ears; the walls of the break were confused blurs of yellow and
green; at every stride Satan seemed to swallow a rod of the white trail.

Jones began to scale the ravine, heading up obliquely far on the side
of where Frank had vanished, and as Wallace followed suit, I turned
Satan. I caught Wallace at the summit, and we raced together out upon
another flat of pinyon. We heard Frank and Jones yelling in a way that
caused us to spur our horses frantically. Spot, gleaming