tumbling the lancer lieutenant out of his saddle, and
making more equal the chances of the strife.

But there is no more fighting, nor the show of it, for Uraga, on seeing
his comrade fall, and once more catching sight of that avenging glance
that glares at him as if from the eyes of Nemesis, wrenches the mustang
round, and rides off in wild retreat; his sword, held loosely, likely to
drop from his grasp.

Soon it does drop, for Hamersley, following in close pursuit, delivers a
second shot from the revolver. The bullet hits the extended sword arm;
the naked blade whirls out, and falls with a ring upon the meadow turf.

Uraga rides on without looking back. He has not even courage to turn
his face towards his antagonist. He thinks only of reaching the timber,
in a despairing hope he may there find shelter and safety.

It is not his destiny to reach it; the pursuer is too close upon his
heels. The head of Hamersley's horse is swept by the mustang's tail,
its long, white hair spread comet-like behind.

Once more the revolver is raised, its muzzle pointed at the retreating
coward. The pressing of its trigger would send a bullet into his back.
It is not pressed.

As if from mercy or mere caprice Hamersley suddenly transfers the pistol
to his left hand. Then, forcing his horse to a long leap forward, he
lays hold of Uraga with his right.

Grasping the Mexican by the sword-belt and jerking him out of the
saddle, he dashes him down to the earth. Then reining up, with the
revolver once more in his right hand, he cries out--

"Lie still, you ruffian! Don't move an inch! I have four shots to
spare, and if you attempt to stir, one of them will quiet you."

The admonition is not needed. Uraga, stunned by the shock for a time,
makes no movement. He is insensible.

Before he comes to himself the Rangers have ridden up, with Walt Wilder
at their head. They proceed to make prisoners of the two men, neither
of whom has been killed in the encounter.

Better for both if they had. For they are now in the hands of men who
will surely doom them to a death less easy thar that they had escaped.

Their fate is inevitable.

CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN.

THE CAMP TRANSFORMED.

Another sun rises over the Llano Estacado, his beams gilding with ruddy
glow the brown basaltic cliffs that enclose the valley of the Arroyo de
Alamo.

On projecting points of these, above the spot chosen by Uraga for his
camp, the black vulture