"There is where you reckoned wrong. Are you going to get down now or not?"
"Supposin' we talk it over with my pard first? Thar he is now."
The man pointed to the trail behind Allen. His manner was so natural that for the instant the young ranchman was deceived. He looked about.
With a dash and a clatter the horse thief urged Rush on, digging his spurs deep into the little horse's flesh. As he did so he dropped partly under the horse's neck, thus to shield himself from a chance shot, should it be taken.
But, although astonished and angered at being so easily duped, Allen did not fire. Rush was moving along over the rocks too rapidly for him to take the risk of killing his brother's favorite beast. Besides, only a small portion of the rider could be seen at one time.
"I'll follow him until I get a better chance," he thought, and he cried to Lilly to follow in pursuit.
Once again the gallant mare responded, although she was now thoroughly jaded. Up the rocks they went, and around numerous bends, the clatter ahead telling plainly that the race was about even for pursued and pursuer.
"I must be on my guard or that fellow may play me foul," thought Allen. "He looks like a most desperate character, and he knows well enough what capture by the law-abiding folks of this State means. They would lynch him in a minute."
Allen wondered what had become of the other thieves and the horse Jasper. Surely they could not be far away.
"Perhaps that fellow is trying to reach the others, who may have gone on ahead," he speculated mentally. "If he reaches them it will be so much the worse for me, for I can never fight two or more among these rocks and bushes. On Lilly. We must run him down at once!"