"How late is it?"
"No watch. Can't say exactly; but I reckon we can reach the valley by sunrise, and not overwork our horses. They're both in good condition."
The great heavy carriage and road horses used in the "settlements" would not have been in anything like as good condition as were those two wiry, tough, swift-footed mustangs, after all they had been through. They were ready now for another long pull; but they were likely to stand it better in the cool night hours than under the hot sun.
In a few minutes more the two friends were in the saddle. There was no more that they could do just then for the safety of the Buckhorn Mine; but they had not ridden far before Murray suddenly exclaimed,
"I'm going to do a queer thing, Steve Harrison!"
"You won't go back to the Lipans?"
"Queerer than that. I'm going to ride straight in among that band of Apaches!"
"What for?"
"I can't exactly say as yet. Will you go with me?"
"Anywhere. I'll feel safer about not getting into the hands of the Lipans again."