Allowing ten miles an hour, it meant
a distance of perhaps twenty miles.
But that was assuming that they went on well-traveled roads, where the
horses could be given their head. Bert felt sure that they would not do
this. The conditions of their lawless life made it necessary for them to
seek refuge in the wilds, where riding would be hard and slow. Their lair
was doubtless in some secluded valley or coulee, where they could hide
the stolen stock, secure from discovery until a favorable opportunity
offered to drive it out at night far from the plundered ranches. The
place, therefore, might not be more than fifteen miles distant. Otherwise
the outlaws would hardly be able to make it in the time mentioned, over
the rough trails they would probably follow. That this conjecture was
correct was proved by the fact that, instead of returning to the broad
road up which Bert had ridden, the men mounted their horses and turned
their heads in the opposite direction up the ravine.
But how could he follow without detection? If he let them get too far
ahead, he might lose track of them altogether.
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