f so much
labor and danger. Captain Dawson insisted that the pursuit should be
pressed without any thought of the red men, and Vose consented.

"But there's one thing we mustn't forget, captain," he said, "and that
is that it is daytime and not night."

"I do not catch your meaning," replied the captain, pausing on the
point of moving off to secure his horse.

"It is this: them people in front will keep as sharp an eye to the
rear as to the front; more'n likely it will be sharper, and it will be
a bad thing if they discover us when we're two or three miles off."

"How shall we prevent it?"

"We can do it, if we're careful. You'll remember that when you went
over this route last, you come upon places where you could see for a
mile or more, 'cause the trail was straight and broad, while there are
others where you can't see more'n a hundred yards. Them that I've
named last is where we must overhaul 'em."

"That sounds well, Vose," said the captain, "but I am unable to see
how you are going to manage so as to bring that about."

"While you're getting the animals ready, I'll take a look ahead."

This was not in the nature of an explanation, but the three willingly
did their part. Vose disappeared almost instantly, and, though they
took but a few minutes to prepare their animals for the resumption of
travel, he was back among them, the expression of his face showing
that he brought news of importance.

"They ain't fur off," he said.

"How far?" asked the captain.

"I can't say anything more than that we're purty close to 'em. Let's
push on!"

CHAPTER XXI

STRANGERS

The signs of an approaching storm that had been noted with some
apprehension the night before, passed away. The sky revealed hardly a
cloud rift, and, when the sun had climbed the mountain crests, the
scene was grand beyond description. But for the grim errand of the
four men, holding relentlessly to the pursuit, they must have yielded
to its impressive influence.

The trail remained so favorable for a couple of miles further, that it
was passed at the same easy, swinging gallop. Vose Adams retained his
place a few paces in advance of the others, who saw him glance sharply
to the right and left, often to the ground and occasionally to the
rear, as if to assure himself that none of his friends was going
astray.

The moderate but continuous descent of the path took them so far
downward that the change of temperature again became noticea