on with my book and thought no more of it.

But when lunch time came neither Madge nor Kid appeared for the meal.
Much calling failed to bring a response. Then I remembered and gave
account of the conversation I had heard. It was found that Dynamite
was gone from the corral. Evidently the little scapegrace had meant
what he said and had carried Madge off. Mrs. Williams ordered the cart
and at once we started after the fugitives.

"He has most probably gone toward Deming," she said. "I will send Red
Jack to Whitewater to stop them if they are there, but I think we had
better drive toward Deming as fast as possible."

About ten miles out we caught sight of the runaways. They were mounted
on Dynamite, Madge holding fast behind. Kid was urging the horse
furiously back and forth among a flock of carrion crows, and practising
with his lasso upon them as they rose and flapped about in short and
heavy flight. They seemed to be having great sport, for Kid was
shouting and yelling at the birds, and Madge screaming with laughter at
their clumsy efforts to escape. So absorbed were they in their play
that they did not see us until we were almost beside them. At first
Kid made as if he would start Dynamite off on the gallop, but Mrs.
Williams called to him sternly, and he turned and trotted back to us,
smiling and looking amazingly innocent.

Madge sat still and stared at us with big, frightened eyes, until Mrs.
Williams had twice spoken to her, and then she slipped quickly down, to
be folded in her mother's arms and sob upon her bosom all the way home.
I persuaded the Kid to sit between us in the cart and drive us back,
tying Dynamite behind.