Chapter 91

           Thechaseleadsstraightacrosstheprairie—towardsthetractofchapparal,tenmilesdistant.

           Beforereachingit,theruckofridersbecomesthinnedtoastragglingline—oneafteranotherfallingoff,—astheirhorsesbecomeblownbythelongswelteringgallop.

           Butfewgetwithinsightofthethicket;andonlytwoenterit,inanythinglikecloseproximitytotheescapinghorseman;who,withoutmakinghalt,plungesintothetimber.

           Thepursuernearesthimismounteduponagreymustang;whichisbeingurgedtoitsutmostspeedbywhip,spur,andvoice.

           Theonecomingafter—butwithalongintervalbetween—isatallmaninaslouchedhatandblanketcoat,bestridingarawbonedroadster,thatnoonewouldsuspecttobecapableofsuchspeed.

           Itisprocurednotbywhip,spur,andvoice;butbythemorecruelpromptingofaknife-bladeheldintherider’shand,andatintervalssilentlyappliedtotheanimal’sspine,justbehindthecroup.

           Thetwomen,thusleadingthechase,areCassiusCalhounandZebStump.

           TheswiftnessofthegreymustanghasgivenCalhountheadvantage;aidedbyadeterminationtobeinatthedeath—asifsomedesperatenecessityrequiredit.

           Theoldhunterappearsequallydetermined.Insteadofbeingcontentedtoproceedathisusualgait,andtrustingtohisskillasatracker,heseemsaimingtokeeptheotherinsight—asifalikesternnecessitywaspromptinghimtodoso.

           Inashorttimebothhaveenteredthechapparal,andarelosttotheeyesofthoseridinglessresolutelybehind.