ng obliquely down the slope towards them, he
might now hope to place himself between them and his ponies.

He spurred his horse, holding his revolver ready for instant use. But
as he rode forward he caught sight of Broken Feather, mounted on the
Arab mare, and impulsively he resolved to recapture Sultana at all
risks. He drew rein. On the instant his obedient pony swerved.

As it did so, Gideon, glancing forward to the farther mouth of the
gulch, saw a strange horseman approaching at a full gallop. He came
like a wild gust of wind, leaning over in his seat and slinging his
supple lariat above his flapping hat as he came. He wore the usual red
shirt and blue scarf of the frontiersman, and he was mounted on a
splendid bay horse, that was less like a prairie mustang than a
well-trained cavalry charger.

Watching him in astonishment, Gideon saw that he had singled out the
Indian chief, and was riding down upon him. He saw the lariat shoot
out from the uplifted hand like a wriggling snake. The wide loop
opened like a wheel, grew suddenly tense and smaller. Then it dropped
clean over Broken Feather's head and shoulders, and in an instant the
chief's two arms were pinioned to his sides.

CHAPTER II

THE UNIFORM OF THE PLAINS

It was some five hours later when Gideon Birkenshaw, Abe Harum, and Isa
Blagg returned to the camp at Sweetwater Bridge. After a sharp fight
in the gulch, they had recovered the larger number of their stolen
ponies, and the rest of their company were still out, rounding-up
others abandoned by their captors.

Greatly to Gideon's annoyance, his precious Arab mare had not yet been
restored to him, and he had no knowledge of what had happened to the
Indian chief.

Leaving Abe and Isa to corral the horses, Gideon dismounted at the side
of the trail and walked slowly and wearily up the woodland path to his
homestead.

Abreast of the well in front of the veranda he came to an abrupt halt,
staring with amazed eyes at a great bay horse that was tethered to the
tie post. Young Rube had removed the saddle and was in the act of
spreading a blanket over the animal's perspiring body.

"Where in thunder did that hoss come from?" Gideon demanded to know.

"A real beauty, ain't he?" said Rube. "A thoroughbred, sure. An' look
at the saddle and bridle. Ain't they just wonderful?"

"It's the identical hoss that I seen in One Tree Gulch only a few hours
ago," declared Gideon. "Thar's no mist