them. Feeling that there was now no need of concealment,

the three horsemen struck off into the open prairie,

intending to depend entirely on the speed and stamina

of their horses. As we have before remarked, they

were good ones; but the Indians soon proved that they

were equally well if not better mounted.

"It'll be a hard run," said Joe in a low, muttering

tone, and looking furtively over his shoulder. "The

varmints are mounted on wild horses--leastways they

were wild not long agone. Them chaps can throw the