“It is later than I suspected,” said he, 202 addressing his wife and consulting his watch again; “and we may as well retire.”
He lighted a common tallow candle, and with that in his hand, led the way up the ladder, followed by the others. Fifteen minutes later, everyone was sleeping as soundly as though the evening had not been disturbed by any unusual incident.
CHAPTER XXIV.
A STRANGE DELAY.
Meanwhile Avon Burnet and Gleeson continued riding northward at an easy gallop, their eyes and ears on the alert for sounds of their friends or enemies.
“Do you remember this spot?” asked the elder, drawing his mustang down to a walk, after going some distance.
The youth looked keenly round in the gloom, but saw only the level plain, similar to that over which they had ridden since leaving the cabin. A dark object on the ground caused him to force his pony toward it.
“That must be one of our cattle,” he said inquiringly.