About three hours ahead of us." He straightened up, his glance peering into the gray mists.

"I reckon it's likely our outfit, but we 'll never catch them on foot.

They 'll be behind the sand-dunes before this.

Before we go back, boys, we 'll see if they left the trail where it turns west." The three ran forward, paying little heed until they reached the edge of the ravine.

Here the beaten trail swerved sharply to the right.
Fifty feet beyond, the marks of horses' hoofs appeared on the sloping bank, and Hamlin sprang down to where the marks disappeared around the edge of a large bowlder.