would be possible to ride at a reasonably rapid gait before venturing on
the path again.

His escape, however, was not to be as simple as at first seemed. Before he
was twenty yards from the starting point a loud cry in the rear told that
his departure had been discovered, and this was followed almost
immediately by the report of a pistol.

"If you don't do anything worse than shoot, I shan't come to much grief,"
he said, with a laugh. " Master Haines is not as wise a man as I have
supposed him to be if he thinks it is possible to bring his game down by
firing at random, for he surely can't see me."

Walter failed to realize that his movements could be plainly heard, even
though he was hidden from view by the foliage, and soon the sounds of
pursuit reached his ear.

"There is no need of the Indian while my horse is floundering among the
bushes," he muttered to himself. "Haines has mounted the other animal, -
was probably on his back before I started, and counts on riding me down.
He can do it, too!" Walter exclaimed, in a louder tone. "Once he is where
I can serve as a target, the chase will be brought to a speedy end."

Now he understood that if he hoped to escape he must return to the path,
where the horse would have an Opportunity to show his speed, and he
wheeled him suddenly around, regardless of the risk of coming directly
upon Haines.

Fortunately his pursuer was not as near as he had fancied, and soon he was
riding at the best possible pace over the narrow path. He had emerged