Chapter 67

           Thechasedequestrianiswithinthreehundredyardsofthebluff,overwhichthetreetowers.Sheoncemoreglancesbehindher.

           "Diosmeamparé!"(Godpreserveme.)

           Godpreserveher!Shewillbetoolate!

           Theforemostofherpursuershasliftedthelazofromhissaddlehorn:heiswindingitoverhishead!

           Beforeshecanreachtheheadofthepass,thenoosewillbearoundherneck,andthen—

           Andthen,asuddenthoughtflashesintohermind—thoughtthatpromisesescapefromthethreatenedstrangulation.

           ThecliffthatoverlookstheAlamoisnearerthanthegorge,bywhichthecreekbottommustbereached.Sheremembersthatitscrestisvisiblefromthejacalé.

           Withaquickjerkupontherein,shedivergesfromhercourse;and,insteadofgoingonforthealhuehueté,sheridesdirectlytowardsthebluff.

           Thechangepuzzlesherpursuers—atthesametimegivingthemgratification.Theywellknowthe"lay"oftheland.Theyunderstandthetrendingofthecliff;andarenowconfidentofacapture.

           Theleadertakesafreshholdofhislazo,tomakemoresureofthethrow.Heisonlyrestrainedfromlaunchingit,bythecertaintyshecannotescape.

           "Chingaro!"muttershetohimself,"ifshegomuchfarther,she’llbeovertheprecipice!"

           Hisreflectionisfalse.Shegoesfarther,butnotovertheprecipice.