There was another, but lower, hill in the west, and before he had completed the second round with his glass a light flashed from it.

It was a brilliant light, almost like a sheaf of white incandescent rays.

He lowered his own mirror and the light played directly upon his hill.

When it ceased he sent back answering rays, to which, when he stopped, a rejoinder came in like fashion.

Then he put the little mirror back in the safe pocket of his hunting shirt and rode with perfect confidence toward that western hill.
The crest that Ned sought was several miles away, although it looked much nearer in the thin clear air of the plains, but he rode now at increased speed, because there was much to draw him on.