The Overland Riders, despite their torturing fear, were thrilled. The blood beat in their temples and their hearts were pounding. They began to understand what this race meant—it was a race with death, and its long arms were waving above them waiting to swoop down and enfold its victims.
“Faster!” Judy’s shrill command was plainly heard above the roar. She turned in her saddle and beckoned to her companions, not certain that they had heard. It was then she saw that the haze was enveloping them and that the outlines of horses and riders were growing fainter. Judy reined in her mount and waited.
“Ride faster! Use the spur! Drive ’em! Drive ’em!” she yelled as the girls swept past her, each one now urging on her mount with sharp cries. The riders now plainly felt the heat, the breath of the fire on their cheeks. So did the horses feel it, and they were frantic.
The tough little mustangs as they swept on needed no urging. They were giving all that was in them to save their own lives, but it seemed to be an unequal battle. The Overland Riders were not panic-stricken, but a great fear was in their hearts, yet not one gave way to her feelings. Perhaps it was because they had no time to do so, for it required close attention to prevent being unhorsed as their ponies made sudden swerves to avoid fallen trees or low hanging branches. The Overland girls were thus kept fully occupied, and it was plain to Judy Hornby that they were in no danger of losing their heads.
Above the noise, she and Bindloss again heard the crack of rifles. It was a scattering fire, but it was fast. Occasionally an interval would occur, during which the firing seemed to cease, to be resumed again a moment later.
“They are riding ahead of us. Look out!” shouted the rancher, swerving close to the mountain girl.
Judy nodded, and spurred on until she was abreast of the racing pony of Elfreda Briggs, who had lost her hat, and whose hair was whipping in the air behind her.
“Something going on ahead! Watch out! Watch me fer orders. Tell the others. I got to git ahead ag’in,” directed Judy.
Elfreda shouted the message to Grace, and Grace passed it to the girl nearest to her, which proved to be Emma. Nora was too far to one side to be reached, but her pony could be trusted to follow the others if any radical change of direction were taken.
