He hoped to overtake the girl soon, for in the glimpses he got of her now and then, as she flew across an open space, he saw that she was putting her whole weight upon the reins; and that should make a sufficient handicap to the gray to wipe out the three-hundred-yard distance between them.  It did not seem possible that Tejon could be running as fast as Surry; and yet, after a half-mile or so of that killing pace, Jack could not see that he was gaining much.  Perhaps it was his anxiety to overtake her that made the chase seem interminable; for presently they emerged upon the highway which led south to Santa Clara and so on down the valley, and he saw, on a straight, open stretch, that he was much nearer; so near he could see that her hair was down and blowing about her face in a way that must have blinded her at times.

Tejon showed no disposition to stop, however; and Jack, bethinking him of the trick Dade had played upon the Vigilantes with his riata, threw off the loop that held it.  If he could get close enough, he meant to lasso the horse unless she managed by that time to get him under control.  Now that they were in the road, Surry’s stride was more even, and although his breathing was becoming audible, he held his pace wonderfully well—­though for that matter, Tejon also seemed to be running just as fast as at first, in spite of that steady pull; indeed, Tejon knew the trick of curling his chin down close to his chest, so that the girl’s strength upon the reins was as nothing.

Jack was almost close enough to make it seem worth while to call encouragement, when a horseman appeared suddenly from behind a willow clump and pulled up in astonishment, as he saw Teresita bearing down upon him like a small whirlwind.  Whereupon Tejon, recognizing horse and rider and knowing of old that they meant leisurely riding and much chatter, with little laughs for punctuation, slowed of his own accord and so came up to the man at his usual easy lope, and stopped before him.

So quickly did it happen that a witness might easily have sworn in perfect good faith that the girl was fleeing from Jack Allen and pulled up thankfully when she met Jose Pacheco.  One could not blame Jose for so interpreting the race, or for the anger that blazed in his eyes for the pursuer, even while his lips parted in a smile at the coming of the girl.  He reined in protectingly between her and the approaching Jack, and spoke soothingly because of her apparent need.

“Be not frightened, querida mia.  Thou art safe with me—­and the accursed gringo will get a lesson he will not soon forget, for daring—­”

Teresita, looking back, discovered Jack behind her.  He was pulling Surry in, now, and he held his riata in one hand as though he were ready to use it at a moment’s notice, and blank astonishment was on his face.  That, perhaps, was because of Jose and Jose’s hostile attitude, standing crosswise of the trail like that, and scowling while he waited, with the fingers of his right hand fumbling inside his sash—­for his dagger, perchance!  Teresita smiled wickedly, in appreciation of the joke on them both.