hole cavalcade. Did my horse possess the "bottom"?

I knew the tireless, wiry nature of the Spanish mustang; and their
animals were of that race. I knew they could gallop for a long day
without breaking down, and this led me to fear for the result.

Speed was nothing now, and I made no attempt to keep it up. I was
determined to economise the strength of my steed. I could not be
overtaken so long as he lasted; and I galloped slowly forward, watching
the movements of my pursuers, and keeping a regular distance ahead of
them.

At times I dismounted to relieve my horse, and ran alongside of him. My
dog followed, occasionally looking up in my face, and seemingly
conscious why I was making such a hurried journey.

During all the day I was never out of sight of the Indians; in fact, I
could have distinguished their arms and counted their numbers at any
time. There were in all about a score of horsemen. The stragglers had
gone back, and only the well-mounted men now continued the pursuit.

As I neared the foot of the snowy peak, I remembered there was water at
our old camping-ground in the pass; and I pushed my horse faster, in
order to gain time to refresh both him and myself. I intended to make a
short halt, and allow the noble brute to breathe himself and snatch a
bite of the bunch-grass that grew around the spring. There was nothing
to fear so long as his strength held out, and I knew that this was the
plan to sustain it.

It was near sundown as I entered the defile. Before riding in among the
rocks I looked back. During the last hour I had gained upon my
pursuers. They were still at least three miles out upon the plain, and
I saw that they were toiling on wearily.

I fell into a train of reflection as I rode down the ravine. I was now
upon a known trail. My spirits rose; my hopes, so long clouded over,
began to assume a brightness and buoyancy, greater from the very
influence of reaction. I should still be able to rescue my betrothed.
My whole energies, my fortune, my life, would be devoted to this one
object. I would raise a band stronger than ever Seguin had commanded.
I should get followers among the returning employes of the caravan;
teamsters whose term of service had expired. I would search the posts
and mountain rendezvous for trappers and hunters. I would apply to the
Mexican Government for aid, in money--in troops. I would appeal to the
citizens of El Paso, of Chihuahua, of Durango.

"G