"They've got to follow straight behind.

The ground is too rough for them to ride around an' flank us." Dick said nothing, but his gauntleted hand moved down to the butt of one of his pistols.

His heart throbbed, but he preserved the appearance of coolness.

He was fast becoming inured to danger.

Owing to the slope they could not increase the speed of their horses greatly, but they were beyond the mouth of the path before they were seen by Skelly and his band.