l see it out.... I'm sorry, Jeff--but it was
so funny!" Here, rather to Jeff's surprise, Charley's dejection gave
place to laughter.

They rode up a sandy slope where mesquites grew black along the road.
Blown sand had lodged to hummocks in their thick and matted growth; the
road was a sunken way.

"How far is it from here, Jeff?"

"Ten miles--maybe only eight--to the river. We're in Texas now--have
been for an hour."

"Think we can make it?"

"_Quien sabe?_"

Gibson drew rein. "You go on. Your horse isn't so tired."

"Oh, I guess not!" said Jeff. "Come on."

The sound of pursuit came clear through the quiet night. There was
silence for a little.

"What'll you do, Jeff? Fight?"

"I can't!" said Jeff. "Hurt those boys? I couldn't fight, the way it
is--hardly, even if 'twas the sheriff. I'll just hang, I reckon."

They reached the top of the little slope and turned down the other side.

"I don't altogether like this hanging idea," said Gibson. "I got you
into this, Jeff; so I'll just get you out again--like the man in our
town who was so wondrous wise. Going to use bramble bushes, too."
Volatile Gibson, in the stress of danger, had forgotten his wrath. He
was light-hearted and happy, frivolously gay. "Give me your rope and
your gun, Jeff. Quick now! No, I won't mention your girl--not once!
Hurry!"

"What you going to do?" asked Jeff, thoroughly mystified.

"Ever read the 'Fool's Errand'?" Charley chuckled. "No? Well, I have.
Jump off and tie the end of your rope to that mesquite root. Quick!"

He sprang down, snatched one end of the coil from Jeff's hand and
stretched it taut across the road, a foot from the ground. "Now your
gun! Quick!"

He snatched the gun, tied an end of his own saddle-rope to the stretched
one, near the middle, plunged through the mesquite, over a hummock,
paying out his rope as he went; wedged the gun firmly in the springing
crotch of a mesquite tree, cocked it and tied the loose end of the
trailing rope to the trigger. He ran back and sprang on his horse.

"Now ride! It's our last chance!"

"Kid, you're a wonder!" said Jeff. "You'll do to take along! They'll
lope up when they turn down that slope, hit that rope and pile in a
heap!"

"And my rope will fire the gun off!" shrilled joyous Charley. "They'll
think it's us--an ambuscade----"

"They'll take to the sand-hills," Jeff broke in. "They'll shoot into the
bushes--they'll think it's us firing back, half the time.... They