"How do you think he escaped?" asked Darry, as they pushed on.
"Can't make it out," replied Mangle. "We'll make him tell the story when we catch him. Ha! what was that?"
A sudden crash ahead had arrested their attention. He listened. A dead silence followed.
"The hosses and young feller have gone into some sort of a hole," cried Darry. "We'll have him now, all right enough."
On they went through the brush, Mangle leading the way. Suddenly the leader came to a halt. Before him was a sheer descent of eight or ten feet.
"Here's where he and the hosses went down," he said to his followers.
"But where is he?" questioned Darry.
"Not far off, I'll warrant ye. Come on."
"Dis yere mustang won't take dat leap," put in Jeff, drawing back.
"And I won't venture it," added Darry, "I don't want to land on my head."