Finding where his quarry had
broken cover, Law set out at a lope.
The fellow had ridden in a wide semicircle at first, then, finding
he was not pursued, he had slackened pace, and, in consequence,
the signs became more difficult to follow. They seemed to lead in
the direction of Las Palmas, which Dave judged must be fully
twelve miles away, and when they continued to maintain this course
the Ranger became doubly interested. Could it be, he asked
himself, that his quarry would have the audacity to ride to the
Austin headquarters? If so, his identification promised to become
easy, for a man on a sorrel cow-pony was more than likely to be
observed. Perhaps he thought himself secure and counted upon the
assistance of some friend or confederate among the Las Palmas
ranch-hands in case of pursuit. That seemed not unreasonable,
particularly inasmuch as he could have no suspicion that it was a
Ranger who was on his trail.
Dave lost the hoof-prints for a time, but picked them up again at
the pasture gate a few miles farther on, and was able to trace
them far enough to assure himself that his quarry was indeed
headed for the Austin house and had no intention of swinging
southward toward the Lewis headquarters.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151