"I wouldn't have a man to ride with his arms tied," said the Ring Tailed
Panther, "but we'll keep on both sides of you an' you needn't try to
make a bolt of it, Urrea."
"I shall not try to make any bolt of it," said Urrea scornfully, "but
you will pay dearly to Austin and Houston for the indignity that you
have put upon me."
The Ring Tailed Panther, true to his principle of never taunting a
prisoner, did not reply, and they mounted. The Panther rode ahead and
Obed and Ned, with Urrea between them, followed. Urrea was silent, his
face melancholy and reproachful.
The belt of timber extended only a few hundred yards farther, when they
came upon the open prairie extending to the horizon. Far to the left
some antelope were feeding, but there was no other sign of life of any
kind.
"I don't see anything of them friends of ours to whom you were
signalin'," said the Ring Tailed Panther.
Urrea would not reply. The Panther said nothing further, and they rode
on over the prairie. But both the Ring Tailed Panther and Obed were
watching the ground, and, when they had gone about two miles, they
reined in their horses.
"See!" they exclaimed simultaneously.
They had come to a broad trail cutting directly across their path.
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