, "Why do you forsake me?"

Under other circumstances the Kentuckian would have shed tears. For
months he and his horse had been as man and man together in many a long
prairie journey--a companionship which unites the traveller to his steed
in liens strong as human friendship, almost as lasting, and almost as
painful to break. So Frank Hamersley felt, as he flung the bridle back
on the animal's withers--still retaining hold of the rein, loth to
relinquish it.

But there was no alternative. Behind were the shouting pursuers quickly
coming on. He could see their brandished spears glancing in the sun
glare. They would soon be within reach, thrusting through his body;
their barbed blades piercing him between the ribs.

No time for sentiment nor dallying now, without the certainty of being
slain.

He gave one last look at his steed, and then letting go the rein, turned
away, as one who, by stern necessity, abandons a friend, fearing
reproach for what he does, but without the power to explain it.

For a time the abandoned steed kept its place, with glances inquiringly
sent after the master who had forsaken it. Then, as the yelling crew
came closer behind, it threw up its head, snorted, and tore off with
trailing bridle.

Hamersley had turned to the guide, now also afoot, but still retaining
hold of his horse, which he was conducting towards the crack in the
cliff, with all his energies forcing it to follow him; for the animal
moved reluctantly, as though suspecting danger inside the darksome
cleft.

Still urging it on, he shouted back to the Kentuckian, "You go first,
Frank! Up into the kanyon, without losin' a second's time. Hyar, take
my gun, an' load both, whiles I see to the closin' o' the gap."

Seizing both guns in his grasp, Hamersley sprang into the chine,
stopping when he got well within its grim jaws.

Wilder went after, leading his steed, that still strained back upon the
bridle.

There was a large stone across the aperture, over which the horse had to
straddle. This being above two feet in height, when the animal had got
its forelegs over Wilder checked it to a stand. Hitherto following him
with forced obedience, it now trembled, and showed a strong
determination to go back. There was an expression, in its owner's eye
it had never seen before--something that terribly frayed it. But it
could not now do this, though ever so inclined. With its ribs close
pressing the rocks on each side, it w