"Don't you tell," she said to the Mexican. "If they ask, say we went to Holcombe."
"All right. I sabe," the Mexican replied. Even as he spoke the music in the bower ceased and voices were heard in question.
Fan sobered. "They've missed us already."
Lester took the reins. "Send 'em south, Aglar," and at his chirp the team sprang forward out upon the road into the coolness and silence of the midnight plain.
Fan, clutching Lester's arm, shook with laughter. "It's like eloping—ain't it?"
The tone of her voice irritated him. "Good Heaven! how vulgar she is! And she is my wife," was his thought; and he took no pleasure in her nearness.
Wild whoops reached them from the ranch-house now hid in the valley behind them, and a few moments later the yells broke out again perceptibly nearer.
"They're after us!" cried Fan, vastly excited and pleased. "It's a race now," and, catching the whip from his hand, she lashed the horses into a gallop.
He said: "I'll turn into the Sun-Fish Trail; we'll throw 'em off the track."
"No use," she laughed. "No use, Dell; they can read a trail like Injuns; besides, they're overtaking us. We might as well turn and go back."