Willock helped him to mount, then placed the child the saddle in
front of him.

"Ride!" he urged hoarsely, "ride for your life! They ain't no other
chance for you and the kid and they ain't no other chance for me."

He leaped upon the second pony.

"Which way?" faltered Gledware, settling in the saddle and grasping
the bridle, but without the other's practised ease.

"Follow the moon--I'll ride against the wind--more chance for one
of us if we ain't together. Start when I do, for when they hear
the horses they'll be out of that door like so many devils turned
loose on us. Ride, pardner, ride, and save the kid for God's sake!
Now--off we go!"

He gave Gledware's pony a vicious cut with his lariat, and drove
the spurs into his own broncho. The thunder of hoofs as they
plunged in different directions, caused a sudden commotion within
the isolated cabin. The door was flung open, and in the light that
streamed forth, Willock, looking back, saw dark forms rush out,
gather about the prostrate forms of the two brothers, move here and
there in indecision, then, by a common impulse, burst into a
swinging run for the horses.

As for Gledware, he never once turned his face. Urging on his horse
at utmost speed, and clasping the child to his breast, he raced
toward the light. The shadow of horse, man and child, at first long
and black, lessened to a mere speck, then vanished with the rider