pointment followed. The three mules having cropped their fill had
lain down for the night but the horses were not in sight.

CHAPTER XVII

THE PURSUERS

The parson expressed his disappointment in vigorous language, when,
instead of the horses, the hybrids proved to be the only animals near
them.

"I am afraid this proves one thing," he said.

"What is that?"

"I have had a dread all along that the Indians would run off the
horses, but it seems to me that if they had done so, they would have
taken the mules."

"It strikes me as more likely that the leftenant took the horses, so
as to prevent our follering him and the gal."

"That sounds reasonable," said the parson thoughtfully; "the plan is
so simple that it must have occurred to him. The mules are too slow to
be of any use to us, and it may be as well that we shall have to go
afoot."

"How do you figure that out?"

"They will conclude that, if we haven't any horses, we won't follow
them; they will, therefore, take their time and travel so slow, that
we'll have the chance to swoop down on them when they are not
expecting it."

"I s'pose there's what you call philosophy in that, but it doesn't hit
me very favorable. We'll see what the cap thinks--helloa!"

Clearly and distinctly through the still air came the signal by which
Captain Dawson was to announce his discovery of the animals. The call
scattered all thoughts of making the journey on foot, and, wheeling
about, the two started off at a rapid pace to join their friend. At
the same moment the call sounded again, and they answered it to let it
be known they understood the situation. In a brief time they came upon
Captain Dawson impatiently awaiting them. There was no need for him to
tell them he had been successful in his search, for he was standing
beside the three horses, which were quickly saddled and bridled. A
minute later the men vaulted upon their backs and the captain said
crisply:

"Now we are off!"

Each seemed to be inspired by the spirit of adventure. They sat erect
in the saddles, drew in a deep inhalation of the keen night air, and
moved off with their horses on a brisk walk, which almost immediately
became a canter. For a mile, the trail through Dead Man's Gulch was
nearly as hard and even as a country highway. The width of the canyon
varied from a few rods to a quarter of a mile, with the mountain
ridges on either hand towering far up into cloudland, the tallest
peaks crown