‘Look!’ Howard’s fingers had locked upon Helen’s arm.  ’It is Kish Taka!’

She looked.  Behind them, outlined against the sky, were a strange pair.  A great beast, head down, howling as it ran, that was bigger than a desert wolf, and close behind it, gaunt body doubled, speeding like an arrow, a naked man.  They flashed across the open space and sped down the steep slope of the ravine where, in the shadows, they became mere ghost figures.

‘It is Kish Taka!’ said Howard a second time.  ’And again Kish Taka has saved my life.’

Dazed, the girl did not yet understand.  She shivered and drew close to her lover, stepping into his arms.  He held her tight, and they turned their fascinated eyes below.  The speed of Jim Courtot in the grip of his terror was great; but it looked like lingering leisure compared to the speed of Kish Taka and his great hungering dog.  And, now, behind Kish Taka came a second dog, like the first; and behind it a second man, like Kish Taka.

If Jim Courtot remembered his revolver, it must have been to know that not long would that stand between him and the two rushing, slavering beasts and the two avenging Indians behind him.  His one hope was his hidden cave with its small orifice and concealed exit.  And Jim Courtot must have realized how small was his chance of coming to it.

They saw him plunge on.  The light slowly increased.  They saw how the dogs and men gained upon him.  They lost sight of all down in the ravine among the shadows.  They saw Courtot again, still in the lead but losing ground.  They lost sight of him again.  They heard a wild scream, a gun fired, the howl of a dog.  Another scream, tortured and terrified.  Then, in the passes of the hills, it was as still as death.

Longstreet, alone, had not seen all of this; the dogs had swept on, but to him, deep in his own thoughts, they were but dogs barking as dogs have a way of doing.  Sanchia sat in a crumpled heap, her face in her hands.  Longstreet’s face was smiling when he came to where his daughter stood with her lover’s arms tight about her.

‘I gave that woman her chance, and she was not innocent,’ he announced equably.  ’I wanted to make sure, but I had my doubts of her, my dear.  Do you know,’ he went on brightly, as though he were but now making a fresh discovery of tremendous importance to the world, ’I am inclined to believe that she is entirely untrustworthy!  I first began to suspect her when she appeared to be in love with me!’ He came closer and patted Helen’s hand; his kindly eyes, passing over the stakes of his claim, were gentle as he peered reminiscently across the dead departed years.  ’Why, no woman ever did that except your mother, my dear!’

Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome and London