Consequently he did not hesitate. He went off of Thunderbolt, as if struck by a cannon ball, and, heading out on the prairie, ran with might and main, quickly disappearing in the darkness, and was seen no more. "Ah, my own Thunderbolt!" exclaimed the delighted Avon, patting the nose of his beast, who was as happy as he at being restored to his young master; "I thought I would never see you again, but here you are." He sprang upon the bare back, and the pony started through the bush for the cabin. Arriving there, matters were found in a satisfactory shape. Ballyhoo Gleeson was the only cowboy that had remained behind with Captain Shirril. The rest had started to look after the cattle. It has been shown that a number had been stampeded, and since all care was necessarily withdrawn from the others, they were likely to follow suit. Then, too, it was probable that the Comanches would see their chance of securing some of the herd, and would make the attempt despite the rough handling they had received. Nothing could have attested more strikingly the fact that our friends were accustomed to their wild, dangerous life, than the manner in which they now acted. A half hour before, the little family within the cabin considered themselves in such imminent peril of being burned to death that they allowed young Burnet to run the greatest risk to secure help, before it was too late. But now Captain Shirril and Ballyhoo Gleeson sat before the fire, that was burning brightly, smoking their pipes, and talking as though the occurrence was of the most ordinary nature. The ranchman had made sure of his supply of tobacco, and intended to ride back to camp, after spending an hour or so within the house. Everyone had eaten supper before the lively incidents opened, and Mrs. Shirril now resumed her sitting in front of the fire, occasionally taking part in the words of her husband and guests. Dinah was heard muttering angrily to herself upstairs, as she investigated the damages done by the visitor in her apartment. Avon, on his return, told his uncle about his horse, explaining that he was fortunate enough to recover Thunderbolt. "You were luckier than I supposed you would be," said the captain, as his nephew drew up his chair near them. "Do you think," asked the wife, "that the Comanches will trouble us further, husband?" "There is no danger," he replied, calmly puffing his pipe; "is there, Ballyhoo?" "None at all," was the calm response. "I thought perhaps that because they had suffered so severely, they would come back to revenge themselves," ventured the little woman, still busily plying her needle. "But you see the damage was done, not by you and Dinah, though you did your part, but by the men, and _them's_ the ones they'll go for," observed Ballyhoo. "That is not the invariable rule with Indians," was the truthful remark of Mrs. Shirril. "It makes little difference to them whether the innocent or guilty suffer."