He dropped back and Sevier rode beside the girl. Their pursuers came fast and furious and the borderer knew they were gaining. The trail with its twistings and its banks of forest growth prevented the pursuers and the fugitives from glimpsing each other. Pointing ahead to a lightning-shattered oak, Sevier directed: “When we reach it you and Miss Elsie must dismount and make back into the woods till you come to a high ledge. The cave is half-way up the ledge and can’t be seen from below. Better hide among the rocks and wait for me to lead you.” As they reached the fallen tree Tonpit and Elsie dismounted and plunged into the woods. Sevier gathered up the bridles and the three horses swept on. For half a mile Sevier laid down the telltale trail, then took to a ribbon of exposed rock and turned at right-angles to the travelled path, his course paralleling that taken by the Tonpits. A quarter of a mile of cautious advance brought him to the foot of the ridge, and he turned south and soon came to the ledge. As he leaped to the ground and led the horses deep among the rocks and brush Elsie Tonpit’s face peered from behind a boulder. In another moment he was leading father and daughter to the hiding-place. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIII THE SENTENCE OF THE WILDERNESS Although styled a cave by Sevier the hiding-place in the ledge was only a rock recess, caused by the undercutting of surface waters. In this pocket the borderer left the Tonpits while he went for assistance. He was surprised on scouting toward the trail to hear the voices of the outlaws raised in loud discussion. He had taken it for granted that Hajason’s men would not observe the abrupt ending of the signs left by the three horses and would continue their pursuit for some distance beyond the ledge. “I tell ye this is the girl’s hoss. I plugged him to stop the girl. That skunk of a Sevier can’t make fast time carryin’ her on his saddle. Old Tonpit’s nag must be ’bout blowed,” bawled Hester’s voice. “My breed tracker says there was three hosses ahead,” boomed Hajason’s deep bass. “He didn’t have to see ’em to know that. If ye fools hadn’t rammed ahead of him an’ wiped out the signs he could ’a’ told where they swung off the path. All we know now is that they turned off somewheres atween here an’ where we stopped, or ’bout half a mile ahead. We’ll have to scatter an’ search both sides of the path.” “This hoss with his flank ripped open is the girl’s nag, I’m tellin’ ye,” persisted Hester. “If Sevier didn’t ride double then they must ’a’ took my hoss. If that’s the case an’ he’s within hearin’, I reckon I can wipe out the need of searchin’ both sides of the path. My animal is trained to prick up his ears when he hears this.”