The Press., 1892-11-17
CHAPTER XVI. A GALLoP OF THREE.

We were off, we three on our gallop to save and to slay.
 Pumps and Fulano took fire at once. They were ready to burst into their top speed and go off in a frenzy. ''Steady, steady" cried Brent. "Now we'll keep this long easy lope for awhile, and I'll tell you my plan.
 "They have gone to the southward, those two men. They could not get away in any other direction. have heard Mur- ker say he knows all the country between here and the Arkansaw. Thank heaven! so do I, foot by foot"
 recalled the sound of galloping hoofs had heard in the night to the south ward.
 q heard them, then," said I, ''in my watch after Fulano's lariat was cut The wind lulled and there came a sound of horses, and another sound, which 1 then thought fevered fancy of my own, far away scream of 8 woman" Brent had been quite unimpassioned in his manner until now. He groaned as spoke of the scream.
 "Oh, Wade! Oh, Richardr' he said, ''why did you not know the voice? It was she. They have terrible hours the start.
 Hewas silent moment, looking sternly forward. Then he began again, and as he spoke, his iron gray edged on with a looser rein.
 ''It is we'll you heard them; it makes their course unmistakable. We know we are on their track. Seven or eight full hours! It is long odds of 8 start. But they are not mounted as we are mounted. They did not ride as we shall ride. They had 8 woman to carry and their mules to drive. They will fear pursuit and push on without stopping. But we shall catch them; we shall catch them before night, so help us God!''
 "You are aiming for the mountains?'' asked.
 ''For Luggernel alley" he said. stThey will make for the Luggernel springs. The alley is the only gate through the mountains toward the Ar kansaw. If they can get by there, they are safe.. They can strike off New Mex ico way, or keep on to the States out of the line of emigration or any Mormon pursuit. The springs are the only water to be had at this season without digging anywhere in that quarter. They must go there. We are no farther from the l spot than we were at Bridger. We have been travelling along the base of the | triangle. We have only lost time. And, now that we are fairly under way, think we might shake out another reef. A little faster, friends-a little faster | vetp'
 So we galloped three abreast, neck and neck, hoof with hoof, steadily quicken. ing our pace over the sere width of desert We must make the most of the levels. Tougher work, cruel obstacles were be- fore.
 | We held steadily for that notch in the blue Sierra. The mountain lines grew sharper, the country where we tray eled rougher, every stride. We came upon wide tract covered with wild ! sage bushes. These delayed and bafaed us. It was a pygmy forest of trees, than the knee. Sometimes we could find natural pathways for 8 few rods Then these strayed aside or closed up and we must plunge straight on. We I lost time; moments we lost, more pre-. | cious than if every one were marked by drop in clepsydra, and each drop at it fell changed itself snd tinkled in the basin a priceless pearl.
 'It worries me, this delay" I said te Brent.
 sThey lost as much-more time thar we," he said.
 And he CT ,wded on, more desperately as man rides for dearer than life-as { lover rides for love.
 We tore along, breaking through ant over the sage bushes, each man wher best he could. Fulano began to shov me what leaps were in him. I gave hin his head. No bridle would have helt him. l kept my mastery by the voice or rather by the perfect identification O his will with mine. Our minds acte, together. 'tSave strength" still warne' him, ''save strength. my friend, for tn mountains and the last leapsr'
 A little pathway in the sage bushe |