A basin three miles across lay beneath him.

Walls and weathered slants of rock and steep slopes of reddish-yellow sand inclosed this oval depression.

The floor was white, and it seemed to move gently or radiate with heat-waves.

Studying it, Slone made out that the motion was caused by wind in long bleached grass.

He had crossed small areas of this grass in different parts of the region.
Wildfire's tracks led down into this basin, and presently Slone, by straining his eyes, made out the red spot that was the stallion.
"He's lookin' to quit the country," soliloquized Slone, as he surveyed the scene.
With keen, slow gaze Slone studied the lay of wall and slope, and when he had circled the huge depression he made sure that Wildfire could not get out except by the narrow pass through which he had gone in.