Soon Venters recognized Tull's white horse, and concluded that the riders had likewise recognized Black Star and Night.

But it would be impossible for Tull yet to see that the blacks were not ridden by Lassiter and Jane.
Venters noted that Tull and the line of horsemen, perhaps ten or twelve in number, stopped several times and evidently looked hard down the slope.

It must have been a puzzling circumstance for Tull.

Venters laughed grimly at the thought of what Tull's rage would be when he finally discovered the trick.

Venters meant to sheer out into the sage before Tull could possibly be sure who rode the blacks.
The gap closed to a distance to half a mile.