She knew that a favorite Indian stratagem is to stampede the adversaries’ horses after dark.  Colina carried the only gun in their little party.

Striking into the woods out of sight of their pursuers, they urged their horses to the best that was in them.  Colina bethought herself of profiting by Nesis’s experience.

“Nesis,” she called, “you know these people!  What should we do?”

Nesis, rousing herself and turning her dreadfully eloquent eyes upon Colina, signified that they must ride on for the present.  When the sun went down she would tell what to do.

For an hour thereafter they rode without speaking.

While it was still light they came out on another meadow.  Nesis signed to Colina that they should halt at the edge of the trees on the other side, and, picketing the horses, let them graze for a little while.

It was done.  The horses had to feed and rest, and this looked like as good a place as any.  Meanwhile Cora built a fire and cooked their supper as unconcerned as if it were a picnic party an hour’s ride from home.

They had no sooner dismounted than the Indians appeared out of the woods at the other side of the meadow.  Seeing the girls, they likewise dismounted without coming any closer, and built a great fire.

About a quarter of a mile separated the two fires.  It grew dark.  Colina sat out of range of the firelight, watching the other fire.

Nesis took the gun and went on up the trail to guard against the surprise from that side.  Cora kept an eye upon the dim shapes of the tethered horses, and watched her mistress with sullen, doglike devotion.

After an hour and a half Nesis returned, and signing to Cora to saddle the horses, made a reconnaissance across the meadow.

Coming back to the fire presently, she indicated to Colina that they were not watched from that side, and that they should now ride on.

Evidently the Indians thinking they had them trapped in the trail were careless.  Indians are not fond of scout duty in the dark in any case.

They softly made ready, taking care not to let the firelight betray their activities.  Nesis’s last act was to heap fresh wood on the fire.  Colina, approving all she did was glad to let her run things.  She could not guess how she purposed evading the Indians in front.

They mounted, and proceeded into the woods, walking their horses slowly.  Colina could not make out the trail, but her horse could.

Nesis led the way.  They climbed a little hill and descended the other side.  At the bottom the trail was bisected by a shallow stream making its way over a stony bed to the river.

Halting her horse in the middle of it, Nesis allowed Colina to approach, and pointed out to her that they must turn to the right here, and let their horses walk in the water to avoid leaving tracks.

For more than an hour they made a painfully slow journey among the stones.  The intelligent horses picked their way with noses close to the ground.