The only thought in his mind now was to take such a course as would best
enable him to elude his pursuers, and he knew full well that the half-
breed could track him where the white man would be wholly at a loss to
find a trace of his movements.

"Its hard to turn back, but it must be done," he said, half to himself, as
he hesitated the merest fraction of time, and then ran down the path in
the same direction from which he had come.

He had hardly started when the sound of horse's hoofbeats caused his cheek
to grow pale. He had regained his liberty only to lose it!

Involuntarily he glanced backward, and then a low cry of satisfaction
burst from his lips.

The horse coming down the path was riderless. It was the animal Haines had
ridden, and apparently much the better steed of the two.

Turning quickly, Walter ran toward the horse, seized him by the bridle
before he had time to wheel around, and in another second was in the
saddle.

A short riding-whip hung from the pommel, and with this the fugitive
struck the animal sharply as he forced him directly into the underbrush
toward the south.

Fortunately, Walter was well acquainted with this section of the country,
having been over it many times with his father, and knew exactly which
direction to take in order to gain that portion of the forest where it