Suddenly the hoofbeats ahead ceased.
Wild let the horse walk right on, for the sounds that came from Spitfire's hoofs could hardly be heard, the ground being very soft just there.
But when about a hundred feet had been covered Wild brought his horse to a halt and dismounted.
Throwing the bridle rein over the animals head, he hurried forward on foot.
He rounded a turn in the pass just in time to distinguish the outlines of a horse, and rider making straight for the almost perpendicular wall at the left of the pass.
Then, all of a sudden, both man and horse disappeared!
"By jove!" exclaimed our hero, under his breath. "I reckon Cap Roche has made a stop before going over to Silver Bend. Now it is for me to find out where he has stopped. I didn't think I would have as much luck as this. Whew! I reckon it won't take us long to settle accounts with the outlaws of Forbidden Pass."
Stepping forward noiselessly, he was soon at the very spot where he had last seen the horse and rider.
There was nothing there now and only the bleak walls of stone were before him.
It was very dark in the pass too, but he could see the stars twinkling overhead, and he was thus enabled to distinguish objects.