"Righto! They act more to me like people who are trying to escape from some one," interposed Jesse. "Maybe they've heard we were in the neighbourhood and are keeping quiet so they won't attract us," suggested Cole. "Non--" began his chief, then suddenly stopped, whistled low and gasped: "By thunder! They may have been Sue and some of the Priors. Perhaps the people have made it so hot for them they've had to flee. Come on, we'll follow and find out! "By the blood of my mother! If the citizens of the Springs have driven them out, we'll go back and shoot that burg up if we never do another thing!" Yet before they could put the words into action they were treated to a second, and still greater, surprise. The sound of fast running horses again fell on their ears from the direction whence the three women and man had come. "Sit tight," whispered Jesse. "There's something in the wind. We'll follow when they get by." Scarcely had the words left his lips than around the turn in the highway dashed six horsemen, rifles at a ready. Fearful lest they hear the crackling of the bushes, the bandits waited till the hoof-beats were almost inaudible, then bounded into the roadway and gave chase. Riding like fiends till they were within sight of the last group of equestrians, Jesse slowed down to a pace at which he could watch them from a safe distance. For minutes, that seemed hours, the strange procession advanced, the first group in ignorance of the two behind it and the second unaware that it was followed. Then, of a sudden, a voice from a horseman in the middle shouted: "Halt, or we'll shoot!" Rising in their stirrups the better to see, the desperadoes awaited the result of the command. But instead of obeying, those in the lead only increased their speed. There was a moment of intense silence. Then a rifle cracked. And before the report died away a woman's scream rang out. "By the blood of my mother! That's Sue's voice!" gasped the world-famous outlaw. "After the devils, boys! We must get 'em before they can shoot again! "If they've hurt my sister or the girls with her, their life-blood will pay for it!" Roused by the cowardly shot at the helpless women, the Younger brothers sprang their horses after their leader, ranging themselves at his side when they had, with difficulty, overtaken him. Having been prevented from shooting at their pursuers when they made their dash for liberty from the Prior farm by their lack of rifles, Jesse had lost no time in supplying the want when he had discovered the small arsenal possessed by Theodoric Snuffer, though his eagerness to purchase them compelled him to pay an exhorbitant price, and as they cut down the distance between the six horsemen and themselves, he ordered his companions to unsling the Winchesters from their shoulders. The solitary shot, however, had been sufficient to cause the girls and their escort to draw rein.