d, not
far from Alamosa Arroyo. The band was again close at hand, and Jo,
after starting them off, rode to the wagon, while his pard, who had been
taking it easy, took up the slow chase on a fresh horse.

After supper the wagon moved on to the upper ford of the Alamosa, as
arranged, and there camped for the night.

Meanwhile, Charley followed the herd. They had not run so far as at
first, for their pursuer made no sign of attack, and they were getting
used to his company. They were more easily found, as the shadows fell,
on account of a snow-white mare that was in the bunch. A young moon in
the sky now gave some help, and relying on his horse to choose the path,
Charley kept him quietly walking after the herd, represented by that
ghost-white mare, till they were lost in the night. He then got off,
unsaddled and picketed his horse, and in his blanket quickly went to
sleep.

At the first streak of dawn he was up, and within a short half-mile,
thanks to the snowy mare, he found the band. At his approach, the shrill
neigh of the Pacer bugled his troop into a flying squad. But on the
first mesa they stopped, and faced about to see what this persistent
follower was, and what he wanted. For a moment or so they stood against
the sky to gaze, and then deciding that he knew him as well as he wished
to, that black meteor flung his mane on the wind, and led off at his
tireless, even swing, while the mares came streaming after.

Away they went, circling now to the west, and after several repetitions
of this same play, flying, following, and overtaking, and flying again,
they passed, near noon, the old Apache look-out, Buffalo Bluff. Anti
here, on watch, was Jo. A long thin column of smoke told Charley to come
to camp, and with a flashing pocket-mirror he made response. Jo, freshly
mounted, rode across, and again took up the chase, and back came Chancy
to camp to eat and rest, and then move on up stream.

All that day Jo followed, and managed, when it was needed, that the herd
should keep the great circle, of which the wagon cut a small chord. At
sundown he came to Verde Crossing, and there was Charley with a fresh
horse and food, and Jo went on in the same calm, dogged way. All the
evening he followed, and far into the night, for the wild herd was now
getting somewhat used to the presence of the harmless strangers, and
were more easily followed; moreover, they were thing out with perpetual
traveling. They were no longer in the