saddle. It was a tribute to Harry's humanity that he caught him and
broke his fall. A single glance at his face as he lay upon the ground
showed that he had no serious hurt, being merely stunned.

Then Harry grasped the bridle and sprang into the saddle that he had
emptied, urging the horse directly through the opening toward the
cleared ground. He relied with absolute faith upon his new mount and
the temporary ignorance of the others that his horse had changed riders.

As he passed out of the forest he leaned low in the saddle to keep the
color of his clothing from being seen too soon, and speaking encouraging
words in his horse's ears, raced toward the south. He heard shouts
behind him, but no shots, and he knew that the cavalrymen still believed
him to be their own man following some new sign.

He was at least a half mile away before they discovered the difference.
Perhaps some one had found their wounded comrade in the forest, or the
man himself, reviving quickly, had told the tale.

In any event Harry heard a distant shout of anger and surprise. Chance
had favored him in giving him another splendid horse, and now, as he
rode like the wind, the waning pursuit sank out of sight behind him.





CHAPTER III

JACKSON MOVES