"The she-wolf," said Edith, looking back, "is again following; but the smaller wolves are snarling over the venison."
"Ow-ee-ow," came the wolf-cry, shriller, sharper, nearer. Esther shuddered. She urged the horses on. Edith grasped her arm in terror.
"The wolf is just behind us!" she said.
Suddenly there was the report of a gun. Esther glanced back, and saw the wolf fall in the road. She glanced ahead, and, at first, she saw no one. Then, out from the shade of a group of pines, rode Kenneth Hastings.
"Whoa! Whoa!" he called, as he leaped from his own horse, and caught Rocket by the bits. With a sudden lurch, the team came to a standstill.
"Whoa, Rocket! Whoa, Star!" he called soothingly, as he held and quieted the team.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, Mr. Hastings!" said Esther. "When did you reach Gila?"
"We're so glad to see you!" said both, as he stepped to the carriage and extended a hand to each.
"But how did you happen to be here?" asked Esther.
"I came in this morning. Mrs. Clayton told me you had gone to Carlisle, and would be back about this time. I have felt anxious about you ever since I heard you had undertaken this journey."