Schmidt glanced around at him.

His back was turned, and he seemed to see nothing worthy of attention in Fred's attitude.
And then, with one spring, Fred was on the horse's back, and, bending low, was urging the tired animal back over the road he had travelled so slowly.

With a cry of mingled rage and surprise Schmidt leaped up and began shouting.

But the horse, ready enough to obey when it was running riderless away, now obeyed the more convincing orders of its rider.
Fred, moreover, was a welcome contrast to Schmidt's big bulk; there was a difference of at least seventy pounds.
Fred turned once to look at Schmidt, and saw him staring with an expression of stupefaction at the empty holster.

Then he devoted himself entirely to the road ahead.