She clutched the bridle wildly, and urged the horse up with one last effort; and just as they reached high ground she heard the wild cry ring clear and distinct, “Hello!  Hello!” and then something else.  It sounded like “Help!” but she could not tell.  Was he trying to deceive her?  Pretending he would help her?

She flung herself into the saddle, giving the horse the signal to run; and, as the animal obeyed and broke into his prairie run, she cast one fearful glance behind her.  The man was pursuing her at a gallop!  He was crossing the valley.  There was a stream to cross, but he would cross it.  He had determination in every line of his flying figure.  His voice was pursuing her, too.  It seemed as if the sound reached out and clutched her heart, and tried to draw her back as she fled.  And now her pursuers were three:  her enemy, the dead man upon the mountain, and the voice.

CHAPTER III

THE PURSUIT

Straight across the prairie she galloped, not daring to stop for an instant, with the voice pursuing her.  For hours it seemed to ring in her ears, and even after she was far beyond any possibility of hearing it she could not be sure but there was now and then a faint echo of it ringing yet, “Hello!”—­ringing like some strange bird amid the silence of the world.

There were cattle and sheep grazing on the bench, and the horse would fain have stopped to dine with them; but the girl urged him on, seeming to make him understand the danger that might be pursuing them.

It was hours before she dared stop for the much-needed rest.  Her brain had grown confused with the fright and weariness.  She felt that she could not much longer stay in the saddle.  She might fall asleep.  The afternoon sun would soon be slipping down behind the mountains.  When and where dared she rest?  Not in the night, for that would be almost certain death, with wild beasts about.

A little group of greasewood offered a scanty shelter.  As if the beast understood her thoughts he stopped with a neigh, and looked around at her.  She scanned the surroundings.  There were cattle all about.  They had looked up curiously from their grazing as the horse flew by, but were now going quietly on about their business.  They would serve as a screen if any should be still pursuing her.  One horse among the other animals in a landscape would not be so noticeable as one alone against the sky.  The greasewood was not far from sloping ground where she might easily flee for hiding if danger approached.

The horse had already begun to crop the tender grass at his feet as if his life depended upon a good meal.  The girl took some more beans from the pack she carried, and mechanically ate them, though she felt no appetite, and her dry throat almost refused to swallow.  She found her eyes shutting even against her will; and in desperation she folded the old coat into a pillow, and with the horse’s bridle fastened in her belt she lay down.