to get through the Comanche lines
without harm," he said to himself, "but of what avail? I shall wander
round and round until daylight, with no more knowledge of where I am
than if I were groping among the Rocky Mountains; and, long before the
rise of sun, the fate of Uncle Dohm and the folks will be settled."

A feeling of exasperation succeeded his depression of spirits. It was
beyond endurance that he should be so near help and yet be unable to
secure it. If he could but gain an inkling of the right course, he would
dart across the prairie with the speed of an arrow.

He had neglected no possible means of informing himself. Recalling the
direction of the wind, he strove to make use of that; but as if even the
elements had united against him, he was not long in discovering that the
wind was fitful and changing, and his attempt to use it as a guide had
much to do with his going so far astray.

The rifle was discharged again, but the listening ear caught no
response, and the conviction forced itself upon him that, instead of
journeying toward the camp, he was really further from it than when he
started.

The mustang began to grow restless once more. Avon spoke sharply, and
started him off without any attempt to guide him. To his surprise, the
steed turned to the left almost at right angles, and without any urging
on his part, broke into a canter.

"I don't understand that," said the rider; "he certainly knows more than
I do, but it is too much to expect him to carry me to my destination
without any direction from me. But he is as likely to be right as wrong,
and so I'll let him do as he chooses. You're a mighty fine animal,"
continued the youth, as the steed broke into a gallop, "but I wouldn't
give Thunderbolt for a hundred like you; he knows something, and when
I'm caught in a fix like this, he is sure to help me out."

The youth feared that the mustang was trying to return to his master.
He, therefore, brought him down to a walk, though he broke into a canter
more than once, and leaning forward, peered through the gloom, on the
alert for the first sign of danger.

"Uncle Dohm believed the Comanches meant to set fire to the house; if he
hadn't thought so, I wouldn't have been in this plight; it strikes me
that it is about time they made a start; if they do so, I will take a
hand in that little game."

At the first glow anywhere in the sky, telling of the use of the torch,
Avon would have driven his mustang t