The trail indicated he was gaining rapidly and he was anxious to force matters to an issue before night.

Among the horses the Indian was running off were one or two whose endurance was less than the others.
Their tardiness moderated the pace of the rest, and thus gave Kit a chance of lessening the distance between him and the fugitive.
At the end of the ten miles he scanned the ground in front, but nothing was seen of the thief or his horses; but the hoof prints were fresh and the scout knew he was closer to him than at any time since the chase began.

The flanks of his steed shone with perspiration and froth, but it would not do to lag now.

The lips were compressed and the gray eye flashed fire as before.
Ten more miles were speedily thrown behind him, and he knew he was not far from the dusky desperado, who doubtless was continually glancing backward in quest of pursuers; but the keen vision which swept around every portion of the visible horizon, discovered no sign of the thief.
Carson anticipated some attempt on the part of the fugitive to confuse pursuit and he, therefore, watched the hoof prints more closely than ever.

The eagle eye continually glanced from the ground to the country in front, and then to the right and left.