Nothing escaped his vision, but when his foamy steed had thundered over another ten miles the fugitive was still beyond sight.
"He can't be far off," was the thought of Carson, "I'm bound to overtake him before long." At that moment, he caught sight of the Indian galloping leisurely forward, amid the stolen horses.

The cunning savage, as the scout had suspected, was constantly on the alert, and detected Carson the same moment that he himself was discovered.

Quick as a flash, he leaped from the back of his horses and started on a swift run for a clump of trees between him and his pursuer.

The latter understood his purpose on the instant.

If the Indian could secure the shelter of the grove, he would have his enemy at his mercy; for not only would he be able to protect his body, while loading and firing, but Carson himself, being in an open space, would be without the slightest protection against his deadly aim.
Carson cocked his rifle and driving his spurs into the flanks of his high spirited steed, charged at full speed for the same shelter.