Leaping the mettlesome mounts into the road, the posse thundered up the street, the cheers and shouts of the spectators ringing in their ears. Eager to wipe out the disgrace of the escape of the notorious outlaws, the men rode like fiends. Past the houses on the outskirts of the town they dashed, never heeding the questions of the people who were attracted by the rumble of the many hoof beats. But as they gained the clear field beyond the village, they could see no sign of the men they were chasing. "We've missed 'em again! We ought to have followed the woods. We could at least have seen where the devils entered," growled the disgusted members of the posse. "Silence in the ranks!" snapped Jones, the criticism rankling. "They may have struck into the road. We can soon tell." For once, the detective had anticipated the move of the world-famous desperado. Noticing that the crowd was all up in the air as to what to do, Jesse had swung his injured pal across the saddle in front of him, getting back into the seat himself and ordering Cole to do the same. "We've got a good lead," he chuckled. "And we can increase it by getting into the highway. We'll ride till we come to Jack Brett's woods and strike for his cabin. If Clell's too badly done up to go on, he'll be safe there." The plan offering the shortest way out of their predicament, for both desperadoes were sufficiently versed in the ways of the detectives to know that they would wire to the surrounding towns for men to ride out to intercept them, they hurriedly struck toward the road where the hard footing enabled their mounts to increase their speed. Thoroughly familiar with the lay of the land, they reeled off mile after mile, now and then looking back as they mounted a rise in the road. "Here they come!" exclaimed Cole suddenly as he caught sight of the cloud of dust raised by the posse. "Ha! I hadn't counted on their hitting the highway," growled his chief. "We'll strike into the woods as soon as we reach 'em." Fully half a mile lay between the outlaws and the protecting shelter of the trees and in silence they rode for them. Nearer and nearer came the whirlwind of dust and soon faint shouts told that the pursuers had sighted their quarry. But the cries caused the bandits no concern. They knew there were several rises in the road that the posse must cover and timing their arrival at the woods for the interval when they would be hidden by one of them, Jesse swerved his mount into the underbrush. And the howl of disappointment that broke on the air when the pursuers gained the top of the hill and found the fugitives had disappeared was sweet music to the ears of the bandits. Again had the man-hunters been balked! CHAPTER XII. THE OUTLAWS AVOID A TRAP. As Cole drew rein when they were out of sight from the roadway and prepared to dismount, his chief forbade him: