We'll hit his trail and will stay with it, and we'll reach his cattle-rustling conscience with a rope." So it came about that a little army crossed the drift fences and entered the border country.

Two days later it came out, and mighty pleased to be able to do so.

The rope had not been used.
The reason for the defeat was quite simple.

The thief had run his cattle through the lava beds where the trail at once became difficult to follow.

This delayed the pursuing party; they ran out of water, and, as there was among them not one man well enough acquainted with the country to know where to find more, they had to return.
"No use, Buck," said Jed.