One had to keep one's eyes open there, for they were every
bit as brave as we were. Don't push on so fast, Charley. Spare your
horse; you will want all he's got in him before you have done. I
think that we must be gaining upon them very fast now. You see the
dead sheep lie every hundred yards or so, instead of every quarter
of a mile. The Indians know well enough that it would take a whole
day out on the edge of the settlements to collect a dozen men for
pursuit, and would have no idea that three men would set off alone;
so I expect that they will now have slackened their pace a little,
to give the sheep breathing time."
After another ten minutes' ride Mr. Hardy again alighted, and found
a very perceptible increase of warmth in the bodies of the sheep.
"I do not think that they can have been dead much more than a
quarter of an hour. Keep a sharp lookout ahead, boys; we may see
them at the top of the next rise."
Not a word was spoken for the next few minutes. Two or three slight
swells were crossed without any sign of the enemy; and then, upon
breasting a rather higher rise than usual, they saw a mass of
moving beings in the distance.
"Halt!" Mr. Hardy shouted, and the boys instantly drew rein. "Jump
off, boys. Only our heads have shown against the sky.
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