Part 19 (2/2)

”Tell us what happened, for heaven's sake,” cried DeWitt, eying Provenso disgustedly.

Jim told his story in detail.

”That Injun Alkus,” he ended, ”he tied a rag over my eyes, tied my hands up and, say, he lost me for fair! He took all day to it. At night he tied me up to a tree and I stood there all night before I got my hands loose. I was sure lost, now, I can tell you! I struck a cowman up on the range the next night. He give me some grub and a canteen and I made out pretty good till yesterday, working south all the time. Then I got crazy with thirst and threw my canteen away.

Found a spring last night again, but I'm about all in.”

”How did Miss Tuttle seem?” asked John with curious quietness. It seemed to him the strangest thing of all that first the Mexican, then this coa.r.s.e, tramp-like fellow, should have talked to Rhoda while he could only wander wildly through the Hades of the desert without a trace of her camp to solace him.

”Say, she was looking good! She thanked me and told me to tell you all to hurry.”

They gave to Provenso a burro whose pack was nearly empty, what food and water they could spare, and he left them. They started on dejectedly. Provenso had told them where Kut-le had camped ten days before.

They could only find that spot and attempt to pick up the trail from there.

”Just the same,” said Billy, ”it's just as well he didn't get away with Miss Rhoda. He's a tough pill, that Provenso. She'd better be with the Injun than him!”

”Provenso must be a bad lot,” said Jack.

”He is!” replied Billy grimly.

The camp was made that night near a smooth-faced mesa. Before dawn they had eaten breakfast and were mounting, when Carlos gave a low whistle. Every ear was strained. On the exquisite stillness of the dawn sounded a woman's voice which a man's voice answered.

CHAPTER X

A LONG TRAIL

Rhoda gave a cry of joy. From the hors.e.m.e.n rose a sudden shout.

”Spread! Spread! There they are!”

”Don't shoot!” It was Porter's voice, shrill and high with excitement.

”That's her, the boy there! Rhoda! Rhoda! We're coming!”

With a quick responsive cry, Rhoda struck her horse. With the blow, Kut-le leaned from his own horse and seized her bridle, turning her horse with his own away from the mesa and to the left. The other Indians followed and with hoa.r.s.e cries of exultation the rescuers took up the pursuit.

Rhoda looked back.

”Shoot!” she screamed. ”Shoot!”

Before the second scream had left her lips she was lifted bodily from the saddle to Kut-le's arms where, understanding his device, she struggled like a mad woman. But she only wasted her strength. Without a glance at her, Kut-le turned his pony almost in its tracks and made for the mesa.

”Cut him off! He'll get away from us!” It was DeWitt's voice, and ”John! John DeWitt!” Rhoda cried.

But the young Indian had gaged his distance well. He brought his horse to its haunches and with Rhoda in his arms was running into a fissure seemingly too narrow for human to enter, while the pursuers were still a hundred yards away.

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