If they heard him, they gave no sign, and presently he saw them turn, ride in among the cedars, and disappear.

In desperation he ran along the fence, down the hill, across the narrow little valley, and up the ridge over which the riders had gone.

On the top of the ridge he stopped again, to spend the last of his breath in another series of wild shouts.

But there was no answer.

Nor could he be sure, even, which way the horsemen had gone.
Dropping down in the shade of a cedar, exhausted by his strenuous exertion, and wet with honest perspiration, he struggled for breath and fanned his hot face with his hat.