Their attention attracted by the howls of the savages, the cavalrymen quickly discovered the group of horsemen in the bracken.
Hoarse commands, the sounds of which alone reached the bandits, were spoken and, in a twinkling, those of the troopers who had mounted the level from the ravine, set their horses toward them.
Turning his head, the world-famous desperado looked toward the Indians.
All of half a mile away were they, though each minute lessened the distance.
"Its a chance, but we've got to take it," snapped Jesse, thinking aloud. "Quick, boys! Whirl your ponies. We'll ride back a way then make a dash for the ravine! Come on!"
Even as the words fell from their leader's lips, his men had turned their mounts and, as he gave the word, buried the rowels of their spurs in the flanks of the fleet footed Indian ponies.
Startled by the unwonted pain, the animals leaped away like stones from catapults.
The race for life was on.
Scarcely a minute had it been from the time the outlaws had caught sight of the cavalrymen till they were in full flight. Yet to them each second their chief had sat inactive had seemed an hour.