But they rejoiced in the fact. Horses
could never be driven into that dense, thorny growth, and they might
evade pursuers on foot. The thorn thicket did not last very long,
however. They passed out of it and came into rough ground with a general
trend upward. Both were panting now and their faces were wet with
perspiration. The breath was dry and hot and the heart constricted
painfully. They heard behind them the noise of the pursuit, spread now
over a wide area.
"If only these hills continue to rise and to rise fast," gasped Obed
White, "we may get away among the rocks and bushes."
There was a rapid tread of hoofs, and two lancers, with their long
weapons leveled, galloped straight at them. Obed leaped to one side, but
Ned, so startled that he lost command of himself, stopped and stood
still. He saw one of the men bearing down upon him, the steel of the
lance head glittering in the sunlight, and instinctively he closed his
eyes. He heard a sharp crack, something seemed to whistle before his
face, and then came a cry which he knew was the death cry of a man. He
had shut his eyes only for a moment, and when he opened them he saw the
Mexican falling to the ground, where he lay motionless across his lance.
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