what Basil believed might be the last--he
again cautioned his brothers to keep on to the butte, and quietly
placing his foot in the stirrup, vaulted into the saddle. The movement
caused the mustangs to start; but, before they could turn themselves,
the young hunter had plied the spur, and made several springs towards
them across the prairie. He looked not at the drove--he cared not which
way they might go--his eye rested only on the white leader, and towards
him he rode in full charge.

The latter, when he saw this sudden movement, stood for a moment, as if
in surprise. Then giving a wild neigh--far different from any of the
calls he had hitherto uttered--wheeled to the right, and led off in a
gallop, the rest following at the top of their speed. As the rearmost
came round upon the prairie, Basil was not a dozen yards from them; and
in a few springs had got so close that he could easily have thrown his
lasso over some of them. In turning, however, he was left far behind;
but he soon recovered his distance, and spurred on, bearing slightly to
one side of the drove. He did not wish to get in amongst them--as he
believed that might be dangerous, and would only impede him. His object
was to head the drove, or in some way to separate the leader from the
others. This was what he wanted first; and to this task he bent himself
with all his energy.

On flew the wild steeds straining themselves to their utmost speed. On
followed the hunter,--apparently in reckless pursuit, but carefully
guiding his horse as he rode. His lasso hung at his saddle-peak. He
had not yet touched it--time enough for that.

On flew the wild horses, and closer followed the daring hunter, until
miles of the prairie lay between him and the starting-point. In a few
minutes he was no longer visible to those he had left behind.

But the small Andalusian steeds were no match for the Godolphin Arab.
The herd had changed its shape. The horses no longer ran in a body, but
in a long string--each taking place according to his speed--and far in
advance of all, like a meteor, glanced the snow-white leader.

The hindmost were soon passed--each swerving off from the track, as soon
as he saw himself headed by the great dark horse that carried the
strange and dreaded object upon his back. One by one they were passed,
until Black Hawk had forged ahead of the whole drove; and his rider now
saw nothing before him but the white steed, the green prairie, and