There were urgent reasons for speed.

Jack Belllounds had ridden to Kremmling, and the hunter did not believe he would return by the road he had taken.
Fox, Wade's favorite dog, much to his disgust, was left behind with Lewis.

The bloodhound, Kane, accompanied Wade.

Kane had been ill-treated and then beaten by Jack Belllounds, and he had left White Slides to take up his home at Moore's cabin.

And at last he had seemed to reconcile himself to the hunter, not with love, but without distrust.