第9章

ThefewboundshetookbeforeDuane’sironarmcheckedhimwereenoughtoreachthecurve。OneflashingglanceshowedDuanetheopenoncemore，alittlevalleybelowwithawide，shallow，rockystream，aclumpofcottonwoodsbeyond，asombergroupofmenfacinghim，andtwodark，limp，strangelygrotesquefigureshangingfrombranches。

ThesightwascommonenoughinsouthwestTexas，butDuanehadneverbeforefoundhimselfsounpleasantlyclose。

Ahoarsevoicepealedout:"Byhell！there’sanotherone！"

"Stranger，ridedownan’accountferyourself！"yelledanother。

"Handsup！"

"Thet’sright，Jack;don’ttakenochances。Plughim！"

Theseremarksweresoswiftlyutteredasalmosttobecontinuous。Duanewaswheelinghishorsewhenariflecracked。

Thebulletstruckhisleftforearmandhethoughtbrokeit，forhedroppedtherein。Thefrightenedhorseleaped。AnotherbulletwhistledpastDuane。Thenthebendintheroadsavedhimprobablyfromcertaindeath。Likethewindhisfleetsteedwenddownthelonghill。

Duanewasinnohurrytolookback。Heknewwhattoexpect。Hischiefconcernofthemomentwasforhisinjuredarm。Hefoundthattheboneswerestillintact;butthewound，havingbeenmadebyasoftbullet，wasanexceedinglybadone。Bloodpouredfromit。Givingthehorsehishead，Duanewoundhisscarftightlyroundtheholes，andwithteethandhandtiedittightly。Thatdone，helookedbackoverhisshoulder。

Ridersweremakingthedustflyonthehillsideroad。Thereweremorecomingroundthecutwheretheroadcurved。Theleaderwasperhapsaquarterofamileback，andtheothersstrungoutbehindhim。Duaneneededonlyoneglancetotellhimthattheywerefastandhard—ridingcowboysinalandwhereallridersweregood。Theywouldnothaveownedanybutstrong，swifthorses。Moreover，itwasadistrictwhereranchershadsufferedbeyondallendurancethegreedandbrutalityofoutlaws。Duanehadsimplybeensounfortunateastorunrightintoalynchingpartyatatimeofalltimeswhenanystrangerwouldbeindangerandanyoutlawputtohislimittoescapewithhislife。

Duanedidnotlookbackagaintillhehadcrossedtheridgypieceofgroundandhadgottentothelevelroad。Hehadgaineduponhispursuers。Whenheascertainedthishetriedtosavehishorse，tocheckalittlethatkillinggait。Thishorsewasamagnificentanimal，big，strong，fast;buthisendurancehadneverbeenputtoagruelingtest。AndthatworriedDuane。Hislifehadmadeitimpossibletokeeponehorseverylongatatime，andthisonewasanunknownquantity。

Duanehadonlyoneplan——theonlyplanpossibleinthiscase——andthatwastomaketheriver—bottoms，wherehemighteludehispursuersinthewillowbrakes。Fifteenmilesorsowouldbringhimtotheriver，andthiswasnotahopelessdistanceforanygoodhorseifnottoocloselypressed。Duaneconcludedpresentlythatthecowboysbehindwerelosingalittleinthechasebecausetheywerenotextendingtheirhorses。Itwasdecidedlyunusualforsuchriderstosavetheirmounts。Duaneponderedoverthis，lookingbackwardseveraltimestoseeiftheirhorseswerestretchedout。Theywerenot，andthefactwasdisturbing。OnlyonereasonpresenteditselftoDuane’sconjecturing，anditwasthatwithhimheadedstraightonthatroadhispursuersweresatisfiednottoforcetherunning。Hebegantohopeandlookforatrailoraroadturningofftorightorleft。Therewasnone。Arough，mesquite—dottedandyucca—spiredcountryextendedawayoneitherside。Duanebelievedthathewouldbecompelledtotaketothishardgoing。Onethingwascertain——hehadtogoroundthevillage。Theriver，however，wasontheoutskirtsofthevillage;andonceinthewillows，hewouldbesafe。

Dust—cloudsfaraheadcausedhisalarmtogrow。Hewatchedwithhiseyesstrained;hehopedtoseeawagon，afewstraycattle。

Butno，hesoondescriedseveralhorsemen。Shotsandyellsbehindhimattestedtothefactthathispursuerslikewisehadseenthesenew—comersonthescene。Morethanamileseparatedthesetwoparties，yetthatdistancedidnotkeepthemfromsoonunderstandingeachother。Duanewaitedonlytoseethisnewfactorshowsignsofsuddenquickaction，andthen，withamutteredcurse，hespurredhishorseofftheroadintothebrush。

Hechosetherightside，becausetheriverlaynearerthatway。

Therewerepatchesofopensandygroundbetweenclumpsofcactusandmesquite，andhefoundthatdespiteazigzagcoursehemadebettertime。Itwasimpossibleforhimtolocatehispursuers。Theywouldcometogether，hedecided，andtaketohistracks。

What，then，washissurpriseanddismaytorunoutofathicketrightintoalowridgeofrough，brokenrock，impossibletogetahorseover。Hewheeledtotheleftalongitsbase。Thesandygroundgaveplacetoahardersoil，wherehishorsedidnotlaborso。Herethegrowthsofmesquiteandcactusbecamescanter，affordingbettertravelbutpoorcover。Hekeptsharpeyesahead，and，ashehadexpected，soonsawmovingdust—cloudsandthedarkfiguresofhorses。Theywerehalfamileaway，andswingingobliquelyacrosstheflat，whichfactprovedthattheyhadentertainedafairideaofthecountryandthefugitive’sdifficulty。

Withoutaninstant’shesitationDuaneputhishorsetohisbestefforts，straightahead。Hehadtopassthosemen。Whenthiswasseeminglymadeimpossiblebyadeepwashfromwhichhehadtoturn，Duanebegantofeelcoldandsick。Wasthistheend？

Alwaystherehadtobeanendtoanoutlaw’scareer。Hewantedthentoridestraightatthesepursuers。Butreasonoutweighedinstinct。Hewasfleeingforhislife;nevertheless，thestrongestinstinctatthetimewashisdesiretofight。

Heknewwhenthesethreehorsemensawhim，andamomentafterwardhelostsightofthemashegotintothemesquiteagain。Hemeantnowtotrytoreachtheroad，andpushedhismountseverely，thoughstillsavinghimforafinalburst。

Rocks，thickets，bunchesofcactus，washes——alloperatedagainsthisfollowingastraightline。Almosthelosthisbearings，andfinallywouldhaveriddentowardhisenemieshadnotgoodfortunefavoredhiminthematterofanopenburned—overstretchofground。

Herehesawbothgroupsofpursuers，oneoneachsideandalmostwithingun—shot。Theirsharpyells，asmuchashiscruelspurs，drovehishorseintothatpacewhichnowmeantlifeordeathforhim。AndneverhadDuanebestrodeagamer，swifter，stancherbeast。Heseemedabouttoaccomplishtheimpossible。

Inthedraggingsandhewasfarsuperiortoanyhorseinpursuit，andonthissandyopenstretchhegainedenoughtosparealittleinthebrushbeyond。Heatednowandthoroughlyterrorized，hekeptthepacethroughthicketsthatalmosttoreDuanefromhissaddle。SomethingweightyandgrimeasedoffDuane。Hewasgoingtogetoutinfront！Thehorsehadspeed，fire，stamina。

Duanedashedoutintoanotheropenplacedottedbyfewtrees，andhere，rightinhispath，withinpistol—range，stoodhorsemenwaiting。Theyyelled，theyspurredtowardhim，butdidnotfireathim。Heturnedhishorse——facedtotheright。Onlyonethingkepthimfromstandinghisgroundtofightitout。Herememberedthosedanglinglimpfigureshangingfromthecottonwoods。Theserancherswouldratherhanganoutlawthandoanything。Theymightdrawallhisfireandthencapturehim。

Hishorrorofhangingwassogreatastobealloutofproportioncomparedtohisgun—fighter’sinstinctofself—preservation。

Aracebeganthen，adusty，crashingdrivethroughgraymesquite。Duanecouldscarcelysee，hewassoblindedbystingingbranchesacrosshiseyes。Thehollowwindroaredinhisears。Helosthissenseofthenearnessofhispursuers。

Buttheymusthavebeenclose。Didtheyshootathim？Heimaginedheheardshots。Butthatmighthavebeenthecrackingofdeadsnags。Hisleftarmhunglimp，almostuseless;hehandledthereinwithhisright;andmostofthetimehehunglowoverthepommel。Thegraywallsflashingbyhim，thewhipoftwigs，therushofwind，theheavy，rapidpoundofhoofs，theviolentmotionofhishorse——theseviedinsensationwiththesmartofsweatinhiseyes，therackofhiswound，thecold，sickcrampinhisstomach。Withthesealsowasdull，ragingfury。Hehadtorunwhenhewantedtofight。Ittookallhismindtoforcebackthatbitterhateofhimself，ofhispursuers，ofthisraceforhisuselesslife。

Suddenlyheburstoutofalineofmesquiteintotheroad。A

longstretchoflonelyroad！Howfiercely，withhot，strangejoy，hewheeledhishorseuponit！Thenhewassweepingalong，surenowthathewasoutinfront。Hishorsestillhadstrengthandspeed，butshowedsignsofbreaking。PresentlyDuanelookedback。Pursuers——hecouldnotcounthowmany——werelopingalonginhisrear。Hepaidnomoreattentiontothem，andwithteethsethefacedahead，grimmernowinhisdeterminationtofoilthem。

Hepassedafewscatteredranch—houseswherehorseswhistledfromcorrals，andmencuriouslywatchedhimflypast。Hesawonerancherrunning，andhefeltintuitivelythatthisfellowwasgoingtojoininthechase。Duane’ssteedpoundedon，notnoticeablyslower，butwithalackofformersmoothness，withastrained，convulsive，jerkingstridewhichshowedhewasalmostdone。

SightofthevillageaheadsurprisedDuane。Hehadreacheditsoonerthanheexpected。Thenhemadeadiscovery——hehadenteredthezoneofwirefences。Ashedarednotturnbacknow，hekepton，intendingtoridethroughthevillage。Lookingbackward，hesawthathispursuerswerehalfamiledistant，toofartoalarmanyvillagersintimetointercepthiminhisflight。Asherodebythefirsthouseshishorsebrokeandbegantolabor。Duanedidnotbelievehewouldlastlongenoughtogothroughthevillage。

SaddledhorsesinfrontofastoregaveDuaneanidea，notbyanymeansnew，andonehehadcarriedoutsuccessfullybefore。

Ashepulledinhisheavingmountandleapedoff，acoupleofrancherscameoutoftheplace，andoneofthemsteppedtoaclean—limbed，fierybay。HewasabouttogetintohissaddlewhenhesawDuane，andthenhehalted，afootinthestirrup。

Duanestrodeforward，graspedthebridleofthisman’shorse。

"Mine’sdone——butnotkilled，"hepanted。"Tradewithme。"

"Wal，stranger，I’mshorealwaysreadytotrade，"drawledtheman。"Butain’tyoualittleswift？"

Duaneglancedbackuptheroad。Hispursuerswereenteringthevillage。

"I’mDuane——BuckDuane，"hecried，menacingly。"Willyoutrade？

Hurry！"

Therancher，turningwhite，droppedhisfootfromthestirrupandfellback。

"IreckonI’lltrade，"hesaid。

Boundingup，Duanedugspursintothebay’sflanks。Thehorsesnortedinfright，plungedintoarun。Hewasfresh，swift，halfwild。Duaneflashedbytheremaininghousesonthestreetoutintotheopen。Buttheroadendedatthatvillageorelseledoutfromsomeotherquarter，forhehadriddenstraightintothefieldsandfromthemintoroughdesert。Whenhereachedthecoverofmesquiteoncemorehelookedbacktofindsixhorsemenwithinrifle—shotofhim，andmorecomingbehindthem。

HisnewhorsehadnothadtimetogetwarmbeforeDuanereachedahighsandybluffbelowwhichlaythewillowbrakes。Asfarashecouldseeextendedanimmenseflatstripofred—tingedwillow。Howwelcomeitwastohiseye！Hefeltlikeahuntedwolfthat，wearyandlame，hadreachedhisholeintherocks。

Zigzaggingdownthesoftslope，heputthebaytothedensewallofleafandbranch。Butthehorsebalked。

Therewaslittletimetolose。Dismounting，hedraggedthestubbornbeastintothethicket。ThiswasharderandslowerworkthanDuanecaredtorisk。Ifhehadnotbeenrushedhemighthavehadbettersuccess。Sohehadtoabandonthehorse——

acircumstancethatonlysuchsorestraitscouldhavedrivenhimto。Thenhewentslippingswiftlythroughthenarrowaisles。

Hehadnotgottenundercoveranytoosoon。Forheheardhispursuerspilingoverthebluff，loud—voiced，confident，brutal。

Theycrashedintothewillows。

"Hi，Sid！Heah’syourhoss！"calledone，evidentlytothemanDuanehadforcedintoatrade。

"Say，ifyoulocoedgents’llholdupalittleI’lltellyousomethin’，"repliedavoicefromthebluff。

"Comeon，Sid！Wegothimcorralled，"saidthefirstspeaker。

"Wal，mebbe，an’ifyouhevit’sliabletobedamnhot。THET

FELLERWASBUCKDUANE！"

Absolutesilencefollowedthatstatement。Presentlyitwasbrokenbyarattlingofloosegravelandthenlowvoices。

"Hecan’tgitacrosstheriver，Itellyou，"cametoDuane’sears。"He’scorralledinthebrake。Iknowthethole。"

ThenDuane，glidingsilentlyandswiftlythroughthewillows，heardnomorefromhispursuers。Heheadedstraightfortheriver。Threadingapassagethroughawillowbrakewasanoldtaskforhim。ManydaysandnightshadgonetotheacquiringofaskillthatmighthavebeenenviedbyanIndian。

TheRioGrandeanditstributariesforthemostoftheirlengthinTexasranbetweenwide，low，flatlandscoveredbyadensegrowthofwillow。Cottonwood，mesquite，pricklypear，andothergrowthsmingledwiththewillow，andaltogethertheymadeamatted，tangledcopse，athicketthataninexperiencedmanwouldhaveconsideredimpenetrable。Fromabove，thesewildbrakeslookedgreenandred;fromtheinsidetheyweregrayandyellow——astripedwall。Trailsandgladeswerescarce。Therewereafewdeer—runwaysandsometimeslittlepathsmadebypeccaries——thejabali，orwildpigs，ofMexico。Thegroundwasclayandunusuallydry，sometimesbakedsohardthatitleftnoimprintofatrack。Whereagrowthofcottonwoodhadheldbacktheencroachmentofthewillowsthereusuallywasthickgrassandunderbrush。Thewillowswereshort，slenderpoleswithstemssoclosetogetherthattheyalmosttouched，andwiththeleafyfoliageformingathickcovering。ThedepthsofthisbrakeDuanehadpenetratedwasasilent，dreamy，strangeplace。

Inthemiddleofthedaythelightwasweirdanddim。Whenabreezeflutteredthefoliage，thenslendershaftsandspearsofsunshinepiercedthegreenmantleanddancedlikegoldontheground。

Duanehadalwaysfeltthestrangenessofthiskindofplace，andlikewisehehadfeltaprotecting，harboringsomethingwhichalwaysseemedtohimtobethesympathyofthebrakeforahuntedcreature。Anyunwoundedcreature，strongandresourceful，wassafewhenhehadglidedunderthelow，rustlinggreenroofofthiswildcovert。Itwasnothardtoconcealtracks;thespringysoilgaveforthnosound;andmencouldhunteachotherforweeks，passwithinafewyardsofeachotherandneverknowit。Theproblemofsustaininglifewasdifficult;but，then，huntedmenandanimalssurvivedonverylittle。

Duanewantedtocrosstheriverifthatwaspossible，and，keepinginthebrake，workhiswayupstreamtillhehadreachedcountrymorehospitable。Rememberingwhatthemanhadsaidinregardtotheriver，Duanehadhisdoubtsaboutcrossing。Buthewouldtakeanychancetoputtheriverbetweenhimandhishunters。Hepushedon。Hisleftarmhadtobefavored，ashecouldscarcelymoveit。Usinghisrighttospreadthewillows，heslippedsidewaysbetweenthemandmadefasttime。Therewerenarrowaislesandwashesandholeslowdownandpathsbrushedbyanimals，allofwhichhetookadvantageof，running，walking，crawling，stoopinganywaytogetalong。Tokeepinastraightlinewasnoteasy——hediditbymarkingsomebrightsunlitstemortreeahead，andwhenhereacheditlookedstraightontomarkanother。Hisprogressnecessarilygrewslower，forasheadvancedthebrakebecamewilder，denser，darker。Mosquitoesbegantowhineabouthishead。Hekeptonwithoutpause。Deepeningshadowsunderthewillowstoldhimthattheafternoonwasfaradvanced。Hebegantofearhehadwanderedinawrongdirection。Finallyastripoflightaheadrelievedhisanxiety，andafteratoilsomepenetrationofstilldenserbrushhebrokethroughtothebankoftheriver。

Hefacedawide，shallow，muddystreamwithbrakesontheoppositebankextendinglikeagreenandyellowwall。Duaneperceivedataglancethefutilityofhistryingtocrossatthispoint。Everywherethesluggishwaterravedquicksandbars。

Infact，thebedoftheriverwasallquicksand，andverylikelytherewasnotafootofwateranywhere。Hecouldnotswim;hecouldnotcrawl;hecouldnotpushalogacross。Anysolidthingtouchingthatsmoothyellowsandwouldbegraspedandsuckeddown。Toprovethisheseizedalongpoleand，reachingdownfromthehighbank，thrustitintothestream。

Righttherenearshorethereapparentlywasnobottomtothetreacherousquicksand。Heabandonedanyhopeofcrossingtheriver。Probablyformilesupanddownitwouldbejustthesameashere。Beforeleavingthebankhetiedhishatuponthepoleandliftedenoughwatertoquenchhisthirst。Thenheworkedhiswaybacktowherethinnergrowthmadeadvancementeasier，andkeptonup—streamtilltheshadowsweresodeephecouldnotsee。Feelingaroundforaplacebigenoughtostretchouton，helaydown。ForthetimebeinghewasassafethereashewouldhavebeenbeyondintheRimRock。Hewastired，thoughnotexhausted，andinspiteofthethrobbingpaininhisarmhedroppedatonceintosleep。

CHAPTERXII

SometimeduringthenightDuaneawoke。Astillnessseeminglysothickandheavyastohavesubstanceblanketedtheblackwillowbrake。Hecouldnotseeastarorabranchortree—trunkorevenhishandbeforehiseyes。Helaytherewaiting，listening，surethathehadbeenawakenedbyanunusualsound。

Ordinarynoisesofthenightinthewildernessneverdisturbedhisrest。Hisfaculties，likethoseofoldfugitivesandhuntedcreatures，hadbecometrainedtoamarvelouskeenness。Alonglowbreathofslowwindmoanedthroughthewillows，passedaway;somestealthy，soft—footedbeasttrottedbyhiminthedarkness;therewasarustlingamongdryleaves;afoxbarkedlonesomelyinthedistance。Butnoneofthesesoundshadbrokenhisslumber。

Suddenly，piercingthestillness，cameabayofabloodhound。

QuicklyDuanesatup，chilledtohismarrow。Theactionmadehimawareofhiscrippledarm。Thencameotherbays，lower，moredistant。Silenceenfoldedhimagain，allthemoreoppressiveandmenacinginhissuspense。Bloodhoundshadbeenputonhistrail，andtheleaderwasnotfaraway。AllhislifeDuanehadbeenfamiliarwithbloodhounds;andheknewthatifthepacksurroundedhiminthisimpenetrabledarknesshewouldbeheldatbayordraggeddownaswolvesdraggedastag。Risingtohisfeet，preparedtofleeasbesthecould，hewaitedtobesureofthedirectionheshouldtake。

Theleaderofthehoundsbrokeintocryagain，adeep，full—toned，ringingbay，strange，ominous，terriblysignificantinitspower。ItcausedacoldsweattooozeoutalloverDuane’sbody。Heturnedfromit，andwithhisuninjuredarmoutstretchedtofeelforthewillowshegropedhiswayalong。

Asitwasimpossibletopickoutthenarrowpassages，hehadtoslipandsqueezeandplungebetweentheyieldingstems。Hemadesuchacrashingthathenolongerheardthebayingofthehounds。Hehadnohopetoeludethem。Hemeanttoclimbthefirstcottonwoodthathestumbleduponinhisblindflight。Butitappearedheneverwasgoingtobeluckyenoughtorunagainstone。Oftenhefell，sometimesflat，atothersupheldbythewillows。Whatmadetheworksohardwasthefactthathehadonlyonearmtoopenaclumpofclose—growingstemsandhisfeetwouldcatchortangleinthenarrowcrotches，holdinghimfast。Hehadtostruggledesperately。Itwasasifthewillowswereclutchinghands，hisenemies，fiendishlyimpedinghisprogress。Hetorehisclothesonsharpbranchesandhisfleshsufferedmanyaprick。Butinaterribleearnestnesshekeptonuntilhebroughtuphardagainstacottonwoodtree。

Thereheleanedandrested。Hefoundhimselfasnearlyexhaustedashehadeverbeen，wetwithsweat，hishandstornandburning，hisbreastlaboring，hislegsstingingfrominnumerablebruises。Whileheleanedtheretocatchhisbreathhelistenedforthepursuinghounds。Foralongtimetherewasnosoundfromthem。This，however，didnotdeceivehimintoanyhopefulness。Therewerebloodhoundsthatbayedoftenonatrail，andothersthatranmostlysilent。Theformerweremorevaluabletotheirownerandthelattermoredangeroustothefugitive。PresentlyDuane’searswerefilledbyachorusofshortringingyelps。Thepackhadfoundwherehehadslept，andnowthetrailwashot。Satisfiedthattheywouldsoonovertakehim，Duanesetaboutclimbingthecottonwood，whichinhisconditionwasdifficultofascent。

Ithappenedtobeafairlylargetreewithaforkaboutfifteenfeetup，andbranchesthereafterinsuccession。Duaneclimbeduntilhegotabovetheenshroudingbeltofblackness。Apalegraymisthungabovethebrake，andthroughitshonealineofdimlights。Duanedecidedthesewerebonfiresmadealongtheblufftorenderhisescapemoredifficultonthatside。Awayroundinthedirectionhethoughtwasnorthheimaginedhesawmorefires，but，asthemistwasthick，hecouldnotbesure。

Whilehesatthereponderingthematter，listeningforthehounds，themistandthegloomononesidelightened;andthissideheconcludedwaseastandmeantthatdawnwasnear。

Satisfyinghimselfonthisscore，hedescendedtothefirstbranchofthetree。

Hissituationnow，thoughstillcritical，didnotappeartobesohopelessasithadbeen。Thehoundswouldsooncloseinonhim，andhewouldkillthemordrivethemaway。Itwasbeyondtheboundsofpossibilitythatanymencouldhavefollowedrunninghoundsthroughthatbrakeinthenight。ThethingthatworriedDuanewasthefactofthebonfires。Hehadgatheredfromthewordsofoneofhispursuersthatthebrakewasakindoftrap，andhebegantobelievetherewasonlyonewayoutofit，andthatwasalongthebankwherehehadentered，andwhereobviouslyallnightlonghispursuershadkeptfiresburning。

Furtherconjectureonthispoint，however，wasinterruptedbyacrashinginthewillowsandtherapidpatteroffeet。

UnderneathDuanelayagray，foggyobscurity。Hecouldnotseetheground，noranyobjectbuttheblacktrunkofthetree。

Sightwouldnotbeneededtotellhimwhenthepackarrived。

Withapatteringrushthroughthewillowsthehoundsreachedthetree;andthenhighabovecrashofbrushandthudofheavypawsroseahideousclamor。Duane’spursuersfarofftothesouthwouldhearthatandknowwhatitmeant。Andatdaybreak，perhapsbefore，theywouldtakeashortcutacrossthebrake，guidedbythebayingofhoundsthathadtreedtheirquarry。

Itwantedonlyafewmoments，however，tillDuanecoulddistinguishthevagueformsofthehoundsinthegrayshadowbelow。Stillhewaited。Hehadnoshotstospare。Andheknewhowtotreatbloodhounds。Graduallytheobscuritylightened，andatlengthDuanehadgoodenoughsightofthehoundsforhispurpose。Hisfirstshotkilledthehugebruteleaderofthepack。Then，withunerringshots，hecrippledseveralothers。

Thatstoppedthebaying。Piercinghowlsarose。Thepacktookfrightandfled，itscourseeasilymarkedbythehowlsofthecrippledmembers。Duanereloadedhisgun，and，makingcertainallthehoundshadgone，hedescendedtothegroundandsetoffatarapidpacetothenorthward。

ThemisthaddissolvedunderarisingsunwhenDuanemadehisfirsthaltsomemilesnorthofthescenewherehehadwaitedforthehounds。Abarriertofurtherprogress，inshapeofaprecipitousrockybluff，rosesheerfromthewillowbrake。Heskirtedthebaseofthecliff，wherewalkingwascomparativelyeasy，aroundinthedirectionoftheriver。Hereachedtheendfinallytoseetherewasabsolutelynochancetoescapefromthebrakeatthatcorner。Ittookextremelabor，attendedbysomehazardandconsiderablepaintohisarm，togetdownwherehecouldfillhissombrerowithwater。Afterquenchinghisthirsthehadalookathiswound。Itwascakedoverwithbloodanddirt。Whenwashedoffthearmwasseentobeinflamedandswollenaroundthebullet—hole。Hebathedit，experiencingasoothingreliefinthecoolwater。Thenhebandageditasbesthecouldandarrangedaslingroundhisneck。Thismitigatedthepainoftheinjuredmemberandhelditinaquietandrestfulposition，whereithadachancetobeginmending。

AsDuaneturnedawayfromtheriverhefeltrefreshed。Hisgreatstrengthandendurancehadalwaysmadefatiguesomethingalmostunknowntohim。However，trampingonfootdayandnightwasasunusualtohimastoanyotherridersoftheSouthwest，andithadbeguntotellonhim。Retracinghissteps，hereachedthepointwherehehadabruptlycomeuponthebluff，andherehedeterminedtofollowalongitsbaseintheotherdirectionuntilhefoundawayoutordiscoveredthefutilityofsucheffort。

Duanecoveredgroundrapidly。Fromtimetotimehepausedtolisten。Buthewasalwayslistening，andhiseyeswereeverroving。Thisalertnesshadbecomesecondnaturewithhim，sothatexceptinextremecasesofcautionheperformeditwhileheponderedhisgloomyandfatefulsituation。Suchhabitofalertnessandthoughtmadetimeflyswiftly。

Bynoonhehadroundedthewidecurveofthebrakeandwasfacingsouth。Thebluffhadpeteredoutfromahigh，mountainouswalltoalowabutmentofrock，butitstillheldtoitssteep，roughnatureandaffordednocrackorslopewherequickascentcouldhavebeenpossible。Hepushedon，growingwarierasheapproachedthedanger—zone，findingthatashenearedtheriveronthissideitwasimperativetogodeeperintothewillows。Intheafternoonhereachedapointwherehecouldseemenpacingtoandfroonthebluff。Thisassuredhimthatwhateverplacewasguardedwasonebywhichhemightescape。Heheadedtowardthesemenandapproachedtowithinahundredpacesofthebluffwheretheywere。Therewereseveralmenandseveralboys，allarmedand，afterthemannerofTexans，takingtheirtaskleisurely。FartherdownDuanemadeoutblackdotsonthehorizonofthebluff—line，andtheseheconcludedweremoreguardsstationedatanotheroutlet。

Probablyalltheavailablemeninthedistrictwereonduty。

Texanstookagrimpleasureinsuchwork。Duanerememberedthatuponseveraloccasionshehadservedsuchdutyhimself。

Duanepeeredthroughthebranchesandstudiedthelayoftheland。Forseveralhundredyardsthebluffcouldbeclimbed。Hetookstockofthosecarelessguards。Theyhadrifles，andthatmadevainanyattempttopassthemindaylight。Hebelievedanattemptbynightmightbesuccessful;andhewasswiftlycomingtoadeterminationtohidetheretilldarkandthentryit，whenthesuddenyelpingofadogbetrayedhimtotheguardsonthebluff。

Thedoghadlikelybeenplacedtheretogiveanalarm，andhewaslustilytruetohistrust。Duanesawthemenruntogetherandbegintotalkexcitedlyandpeerintothebrake，whichwasasignalforhimtoslipawayunderthewillows。Hemadenonoise，andheassuredhimselfhemustbeinvisible。

Nevertheless，heheardshouts，thenthecrackingofrifles，andbulletsbegantozipandswishthroughtheleafycovert。Thedaywashotandwindless，andDuaneconcludedthatwheneverhetouchedawillowstem，eveneversoslightly，itvibratedtothetopandsentaquiveramongtheleaves。Throughthistheguardshadlocatedhisposition。Onceabullethissedbyhim;

anotherthuddedintothegroundbeforehim。ThisshootingloosedarageinDuane。Hehadtoflyfromthesemen，andhehatedthemandhimselfbecauseofit。Alwaysinthefuryofsuchmomentshewantedtogivebackshotforshot。Butheslippedonthroughthewillows，andatlengththeriflesceasedtocrack。

Hesheeredtotheleftagain，inlinewiththerockybarrier，andkepton，wonderingwhatthenextmilewouldbring。

Itbroughtworse，forhewasseenbysharp—eyedscouts，andahotfusilladedrovehimtorunforhislife，luckilytoescapewithnomorethanabullet—creasedshoulder。

Laterthatday，stillundaunted，hesheeredagaintowardthetrap—wall，andfoundthatthenearerheapproachedtotheplacewherehehadcomedownintothebrakethegreaterhisdanger。

Toattempttoruntheblockadeofthattrailbydaywouldbefatal。Hewaitedfornight，andafterthebrightnessofthefireshadsomewhatlessenedheassayedtocreepoutofthebrake。Hesucceededinreachingthefootofthebluff，hereonlyabank，andhadbeguntocrawlstealthilyupundercoverofashadowwhenahoundagainbetrayedhisposition。

RetreatingtothewillowswasasperilousataskashadeverconfrontedDuane，andwhenhehadaccomplishedit，rightunderwhatseemedahundredblazingrifles，hefeltthathehadindeedbeenfavoredbyProvidence。Thistimemenfollowedhimagoodlywaysintothebrake，andtherippingofleadthroughthewillowssoundedonallsidesofhim。