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。