Ned looked curiously at the faces of those whom they had saved, but the night had not lightened, and he could discern nothing.

They went thus a full quarter of an hour.
The noise of the stampede sank away in the south, and then the Panther laughed.
It was a deep, hearty, unctuous laugh that came from the very depths of the man's chest.

It was a laugh with no trace of merely superficial joy.
He who uttered it laughed because his heart and soul were in it.

It was a laugh of mirth, relief and triumph, all carried to the highest degree.
It was a long laugh, rising and falling, but when it ceased and the Panther had drawn a deep breath he opened his mouth again and spoke the words that were in his mind.
"I shorely did some rippin' an' roarin' then," he said.

"It was the best chance I ever had, an' I guess I used it.