The gulch spread out into a wide, shallow valley--a draw, they called it--and the waters of the stream disappeared, sucked up by the thirsty earth. The valley curved to the east, the road climbing over its rim and holding straight toward the south. The figure of Melgares, mounted on Brown Betty as on a pedestal, stood out boldly for a moment against the turquoise sky as he crossed the summit, then sank out of sight beyond the hill. The party galloped on, and as they crossed the ridge and saw him on the top of a smaller hill beyond, Conrad's eye swept the distance lying between and he exclaimed, "We've gained on him!" At the same moment Little Jack Wilder, who had been watching the road intently, shouted joyously, the first words he had spoken since leaving the town, "She's cast a shoe! Now it's a cinch!" Tillinghurst turned his head and shouted, "Get your gun ready, Pendy! your chance is comin'." Jack Gaines, riding neck and neck with the Sheriff, looked back and yelled, "Come a-runnin', Pendy! The greaser can't wait for you all day!" They were gaining rapidly on Melgares and, as they swept over the top of a little hill and saw him cross the next low rise, Conrad exclaimed, "She's limping, damn him! If he hurts Brown Betty--" "You won't mind so much if we hurt him," quietly put in the Sheriff, who was riding on his lee. Curtis spurred his horse to Wilder's stirrup. "Jack," he said, "I don't want the fellow hurt. If he'll give up my mare I'm willing to let him go." Little Jack grunted contemptuously without replying. "I want you to understand," Conrad went on, "that if you take him I shall make no complaint against him, provided I get Betty unhurt." "You don't have to make no complaint," Jack growled; "I'll do that myself." They gained steadily on the fugitive, and presently Curtis curved his hands about his mouth and called, "Betty! Betty B!" They could see the mare check her speed, and the faint sound of her whinny reached their ears. Conrad called again; and the mare wheeled in her tracks. The Mexican jerked her back, lashed her furiously, and set her forward again at a gallop. Curtis called again and again, and every time they could see Melgares using whip and spur to force her on. But presently the mare dropped tail and head, arched her back, and, stiff-legged, began to jump up and down. Conrad laughed joyously and slapped his thigh. "Bully for Betty B! I never knew her to buck before."