Thus they swept along, riding hard on the trail of the fugitive.
The Indian pony took to a rocky gorge, where its hoofprints were not easily followed; but, as it could not have left the gorge, they rode straight on at top speed.
“Go ’long, Nebby, you ole crow bait!” said Nomad. “Hyar I’ve allus been braggin’ on you bein’ a reg’lar bird with wings, when it come ter runnin’, and now you’re hurtin’ my feelin’s by turnin’ inter a snail. Go ’long!”
They came in sight of the pony they were pursuing, at a bend in the gorge, and they almost reeled in their saddles when they saw it, so great was their astonishment.
The pony was riderless!
“Waugh!” Nomad roared, drawing rein and staring stupidly. “Whar’s ther man and ther gal?”
No one could answer his question.
CHAPTER XLIV.
LAWLESS STRATEGY.
Black John was no fool. In fact, he was both shrewd and clever, and possessed a foxlike instinct that stood him in good stead now.
When he discovered that Buffalo Bill and three other men were near and coming on rapidly, he rode swiftly out of the valley, with the girl before him, telling her that he had sighted Indians. His frightened manner and frantic haste made her believe he told the truth.