So Bob’s spirits rose again, for he was naturally of a buoyant nature. Besides, at the extreme end of the fire line the flames did not seem to be quite so fierce as in the middle. They had to eat up against the breeze, after a fashion.
One last spurt, and they passed the barrier, although compelled to turn their faces the other way on account of the heat.
Bob expected his comrades to give vent to their satisfaction in loud yells. To his surprise they did nothing of the sort. More than that, Frank immediately called out to him, saying:
“Don’t whoop it up, Bob! To do that would only let ’em know we’d managed to flank the blaze, and were still after them. As it is, they’ll believe we’re either caught in the fire, or running before it to beat the band!”
Then Bob saw why silence was the best policy, just then. And more than ever he admired the ready way in which his chum was able to grasp all parts of the game.
The horses were breathing hard, after their recent strain. Bob patted Domino on his wet neck with the true affection a lover of horses feels for the animal that has successfully borne him through a race.
“Good old Domino!” he said, again and again. “No fellow ever had a braver mount! And I know I’ll never meet with your equal in a life time. Bully boy! there never yet was a time when I called on you for an extra spurt but what you had it tied up and waiting. Whew! that was a close shave, though! I reckon my eyebrows must have been singed some!”
Frank and Mr. Riley had again taken an observation. Little use to look up to the dome overhead to get their course, because the clouds completely covered the sky. But the direction of the wind told them what they wanted to know; so that once again the three horses were headed into the Southwest.
“Say, Frank, I was thinking that perhaps they might be able to see us even when we couldn’t get a glimpse of them,” called out Bob, who was close in the rear.
“That’s true for you, Bob,” answered the other; “because the fire makes a bright background. But we have to take those chances. Once let us get sight of them, and we’ll bring this thing to an end soon enough.”