But there appeared to be none at hand.

He came across many lion tracks and saw, with apprehension, where one had taken Wildfire's trail.

Wildfire had grazed up the canyon, keeping on and on, and he was likely to go miles in a night.

Slone reflected that as small as were his own chances of getting Wildfire, they were still better than those of a mountain-lion.
Wildfire was the most cunning of all animals--a wild stallion; his speed and endurance were incomparable; his scent as keen as those animals that relied wholly upon scent to warn them of danger, and as for sight, it was Slone's belief that no hoofed creature, except the mountain-sheep used to high altitudes, could see as far as a wild horse.
It bothered Slone a little that he was getting into a lion country.
Nagger showed nervousness, something unusual for him.

Slone tied both horses with long halters and stationed them on patches of thick grass.
Then he put a cedar stump on the fire and went to sleep.