When the sounds had died away; Young Matt turned to the girl; “Come on; we’ve got to keep ’em in sight.”

But Sammy held back.  “Oh, Matt, don’t go yet.  We must not.  Didn’t you hear what that man said?  It’s you they’re after.  Let’s wait here until they’re clean gone.”

“No, ‘tain’t; they ain’t a wantin’ me,” the big fellow replied.  And before the young woman could protest further, he lifted her to the saddle as easily as if she were a child.  Then, springing to the back of his own horse, he led the way at a pace that would keep them within hearing of the company of men.

“Who is it, Matt?  Who is it, if it ain’t you?” asked the girl.

“Don’t know for sure yet, but I’ll tell you pretty soon.”

They had not gone far when Young Matt stopped the horse to listen intently; and soon by the sound he could tell that the party ahead had turned off the ridge road and were following the trail that leads down the eastern side of the mountain.  A moment longer the mountaineer listened, as if to make sure; then he spoke; “Them devils are goin’ to the ranch after Dad Howitt.  Sammy, you’ve got to ride hard to-night.  They won’t hear you now, and they’re getting farther off every minute.  There ain’t no other way, and, I know you’ll do it for the old man.  Get home as quick as you can and tell Jim what’s up.  Tell him I’ll hold ’em until he gets there.”  Even as he spoke, he sprang from his horse and began loosening the saddle girths.

“But, Matt,” protested the girl; “how can you?  You can’t get by them.  How’re you goin’ to get there in time?”

“Down the mountain; short cut;” he answered as he jerked the heavy saddle from his horse and threw it under some nearby bushes.

“But they’ll kill you.  You can’t never face that whole crowd alone.”

“I can do it better’n Dad, and him not a lookin’ for them.”

Slipping the bridle from the sorrel, he turned the animal loose, and, removing his coat and hat, laid them with the saddle.  Then to the girl on the pony he said sharply o on, Sammy.  Why don’t you go on?  Don’t you see how you’re losin’ time?  Them devils will do for Dad Howitt like they done for old man Lewis.  Your father’s the only man can stop ’em now.  Ride hard, girl, and tell Jim to hurry.  And—­and, good-by, Sammy.”  As he finished, he spoke to her horse and struck him such a blow that the animal sprang away.

For a moment Sammy attempted to pull up her startled pony.  Then Young Matt saw her lean forward in the saddle, and urge the little horse to even greater speed.  As they disappeared down the road, the giant turned and ran crashing through the brush down the steep side of the mountain.  There was no path to follow.  And with deep ravines to cross, rocky bluffs to descend or scale, and, in places, wild tangles of vines and brush and fallen trees, the trip before him would have been a hard one even in the full light of day.  At night, it was almost impossible, and he must go like a buck with the dogs in full cry.