later than I suspected," said he, addressing his wife and
consulting his watch again; "and we may as well retire."

He lighted a common tallow candle, and with that in his hand, led the
way up the ladder, followed by the others. Fifteen minutes later,
everyone was sleeping as soundly as though the evening had not been
disturbed by any unusual incident.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A STRANGE DELAY.

Meanwhile Avon Burnet and Gleeson continued riding northward at an easy
gallop, their eyes and ears on the alert for sounds of their friends or
enemies.

"Do you remember this spot?" asked the elder, drawing his mustang down
to a walk, after going some distance.

The youth looked keenly round in the gloom, but saw only the level
plain, similar to that over which they had ridden since leaving the
cabin. A dark object on the ground caused him to force his pony toward
it.

"That must be one of our cattle," he said inquiringly.

"It's what is left of him; that's the steer that the Comanche brought
down when he took a shot at you."

"Ah, this is the place where you joined me?"

"Percisely."

"But where is _he_--that is, his body?"

"They've took it off; you know how hard the Comanches try to carry away
their dead and wounded."

"I saw a proof of that while hunting for Thunderbolt, but I didn't think
they would be able to find this one."

"They must have heard the shot and his cry, and though we made things
hum about them, they took time to look into it and bear the body away."

"I wonder now whether that could have been Wygwind," said Avon,
referring to the notorious leader of whom we have spoken.

"No," was the decisive reply of Ballyhoo.

"Why not?"

"He is a powerful brave Injin, but plenty of his warriors can outrun
him. This one was too good on his feet to be him."

The couple gave their horses rein again, and they broke into a gallop
which carried them swiftly toward their destination. The glimmer of the
camp-fire was discerned when they rode to the top of the next moderate
elevation.

"Hark!" exclaimed Ballyhoo, abruptly checking his pony.

His companion did the same, for he had caught the sound, which was that
made by many hoofs.

"The confounded beasts are still at it," added the elder, allowing his
steed to resume his walk.

"The boys may be driving them back to camp."

"No; it doesn't sound right."

"Do you imagine the Comanches are taking any hand in this?"

"It doesn't strike me so, but