hour
passed, and then far away on the edge of the white circle, which was
lighted by the rays of a sinking moon, I saw a moving speck, and one of
the troopers shouted. Thereupon the spurs went in, and when my beast shot
forward I knew that the police horses were tired, and I could readily
leave them behind. Still, I was not an officer of the law, and reflecting
that my presence or absence would in no way affect the fugitives' chance
of escape, while after recent events it was well to be careful, I held him
in.

We were gaining, however, for the distant object developed into a sleigh;
but the moon was sinking fast, and the dark line on the horizon, with a
fretted edge, betokened the birches fringing Coulee Rouge, where the party
before us might well escape.

"Ride ye, boys!" cried the sergeant; but the beasts were weary and the
blundering gallop was a poor one, while I kept a firm hand on the good
horse's rein, holding him behind the others and out of sight, lest
Sergeant Angus should demand an exchange in the Queen's name. This was not
easy, for Ormond had hunted coyotes on him with a very scratch pack of
hounds, while one of the troopers kept dropping back toward me, and the
beast seemed under the impression that I was wilfully throwing away my
chance in the race. Meanwhile, the sleigh grew more and more visible,
though I did not doubt that its occupants were doing their utmost to gain
the shelter of the birches in the dark coulee, and that my other horse was
suffering at their hands accordingly. Then there was a growl from the
sergeant as the sleigh was lost on the edge of the fringe of trees, and
presently we rode panting and more slowly beneath them, to the brink of
the coulee, with the steam from the horses rising in white clouds about
us. It was, of course, particularly steep, and as the moonlight only
filtered through the matted branches dark shadow for the most part veiled
the treacherous descent, which the troopers accomplished with many a
stumble. They were excellent horsemen, but there is a limit to equine
endurance, and their beasts had nearly reached it. Presently, as we neared
the very rude log bridge which spanned the inevitable creek, the last
silvery patch of radiance faded, and thick darkness filled the ravine.

"Halt!" said the sergeant. "Confusion! It's pit dark!" and drawing rein we
sat still a few moments, listening intently, but we heard only the
branches moaning under the bitter breeze.

"The