and to rise fast," gasped Obed
White, "we may get away among the rocks and bushes."

There was a rapid tread of hoofs, and two lancers, with their long
weapons leveled, galloped straight at them. Obed leaped to one side, but
Ned, so startled that he lost command of himself, stopped and stood
still. He saw one of the men bearing down upon him, the steel of the
lance head glittering in the sunlight, and instinctively he closed his
eyes. He heard a sharp crack, something seemed to whistle before his
face, and then came a cry which he knew was the death cry of a man. He
had shut his eyes only for a moment, and when he opened them he saw the
Mexican falling to the ground, where he lay motionless across his lance.
Obed White stood near, and his rifle yet smoked. Ned instantly recovered
himself, and fired at the second lancer who, turning about, galloped
away with a wound in his shoulder.

"Come Ned," cried Obed White. "There is a time for all things, and it is
time for us to get away from here as fast as we can."

He could not be too quick for Ned, who ran swiftly, avoiding another
look at the silent and motionless figure on the ground. The riderless
horse was crashing about among the trees. From a point three or four
hundred yards behind there came the sound of much shouting. Ned thought
it to be an outburst of anger caused by the return of the wounded
lancer.

"We stung 'em a little," he panted.

"We did," said Obed White. "Remember that when you go out to slay you
may be slain. But, Ned, we must reload."

They curved about, and darting into a thick clump of bushes put fresh
charges in their rifles. Ned was trembling from excitement and
exertion, but his anger was beginning to rise. There must always come a
time when the hunted beast will turn and rend if it can. Ned had been
the hunted, now he wanted to become the hunter. Obed and he had beaten
off the first attack. There were plenty more bullets where the other two
had come from, and he was eager to use them. He peered out of the
bushes, his face red, his eyes alight, his rifle ready for instant use.
But Obed placed one hand on his shoulder:

"Gently, Ned, gently!" he said. "We can't fight an entire Mexican army,
but if we slip away to some good position we can beat off any little
band that may find us."

It was evident that the Mexicans had lost the trail, for the time being.
They were still seeking the quarry but with much noise and confusion. A
trumpet was bl