"
"Well, they've been called," said Ned, who was looking back. "See,
there, on the highest ridge."
A faint, dark blur had appeared on a crest three or four miles behind
them, one that would have been wholly invisible had not the air been so
clear and translucent. It was impossible at the distance to distinguish
shapes or detach anything from the general mass, but they knew very well
that it was the Lipans. Each felt a little chill at this pursuit so
tenacious and so menacing.
"I wish that we had some sort of a place like that in which we faced the
Mexicans, where we could put our backs to the wall and fight!" exclaimed
Ned.
"I know how you feel," said Obed, "because I feel the same way myself,
but there isn't any such place, Ned, and this plain doesn't ever give
any sign of producing one, so we'll just ride on. We'll trust to time
and chance. Something may happen in our favor."
They strengthened their hearts, whistled to their horses and rode
ahead. As on the day before the interminable pursuit went on hour after
hour. It was another hot day, and their water bottles were almost
emptied. The horses had had nothing to drink since the day before and
the two fugitives began to feel for them, but about noon they came to a
little pool, lying in a dip or hollow between the swells.
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