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is everything； and there is death in long speaking。 He was noted as a man
who never missed his mark； and in the Cimarron country； which belonged
to no state and therefore to no court； extensive and deadly had been his
practise； without fear of retribution。
Now； however； his bullet had gone astray。 The few words to which he
had treated himself as an introduction to the intended deed had proved his
undoing。 They had been enough to warn Willock of what was coming； and
just before Kansas had been called on 〃to witness；〃 that is an instant
before Red fired； Willock had sent a bullet through the threatening wrist。
The two detonations were almost simultaneous； and Red's roar of pain； as
he dropped his weapon； rang out as an accompaniment to the crash of
firearms。
The next instant； Willock； with a second shot from his six…shooter；
stretched Kansas on the ground； then； rushing forward with reversed
weapon； he brought the butt down on Red's head with such force as to
deprive him of consciousness。 So swift and deadly were his movements；
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so wild his appearance as； with long locks streaming in the wind and huge
black whiskers hiding all but glittering eyes； aquiline nose and a brief
space of tough red skinso much more like a demon than a man； it was no
wonder that the child； awakened by the firing； screamed with terror at
finding her head pressed to his bosom。
〃Come！〃 Willock called breathlessly to the prisoner who still stood
with his back to the moon； as if horror at what he had just witnessed
rendered him as helpless as he had been from sheer terror。 Still holding the
screaming child； he darted to the ponies that were tied to the projecting
logs of the cabin and hastily unfastened two of the fleetest。
Henry Gledware； awakened as from a trance； bounded to his side。
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 moonI'll ride against the windmore 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！ Nowoff 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 beyond the circle of the level
world。
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CHAPTER III
FLIGHT
Brick Willock； galloping toward the Southeast； frequently looked back。
He saw the desperadoes leap upon their horses； wheel about in short
circles that brought the animals upright； then spring forward in pursuit。 He
heard the shouting which； though far away； sounded the unmistakable
accent of ungovernable fury。 In the glaring moonlight； he distinguished
plainly the cloud of dust and sand raised by the horses； which the wind
lifted in white shapes against the deep blue of the sky。 And looking beyond
his pursuers toward the rude cabin where the highwaymen had so long
held their rendezvous； he knew； because no animate forms appeared
against the horizon； that the Kimball brothers lay where he had stretched
them… …one； senseless from the crashing blow on his head； the other；
lifeless from the bullet in his breast。
The little girl and her stepfather had vanished from the smooth open
page of the Texas Panhandleand Brick Willock rejoiced； with a joy new
to him； that these escaped prisoners had not been pursued。 It was himself
that the band meant to subject to their savage vengeance； and himself
alone。 The murder of the child was abhorrent to their hearts which had not
attained the hardened insensibility of their leader's conscience； and they
were willing for the supposed spy to escape； since it spared them the
embarrassment of disposing of the little girl。
But Brick Willock had been one of them and he had killed their leader；
and their leader's brother； or at least had brought them to the verge of
death。 If Red Kimball revived； he would doubtless right his own wrongs；
should Willock live to be punished。 In the meantime； it was for them to
treat with the traitorthis giant of a Texan； huge…whiskered； slow of
speech； who had ever been first to throw himself into the thick of danger
but who had always hung back from deeds of cruelty。 He had plundered
coaches and wagon…trains with them； he had fought with them against
strong bodies of emigrants； he had killed and burnedin the eyes of the
world his deeds made him one of them； and his aspect marked him as the
most dangerous of the band。 But they had always felt the differenceand
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now they meant to kill him not only because he had overpowered their
leader but because of this difference。
As their bullets pursued him； Willock lay along the body of the
broncho； feeling his steed very small； and himself very largeand yet；
despite the rain of lead； his pleasure over the escape of the child warmed
his heart。 The sand was plowed up by his side from the peppering of
bulletsbut he seemed to feel that innocent unconscious arm about his
great neck； the yells of rage were in his ears； but he heard the soft
breathing of the little one fast asleep in the midst of her dangers。
He had selected for himself； and for Gledware； ponies that had often
been run against each other； and which no others of all Red Kimball's
corral could surpass in speed。 Gledware and the child were on the pony
that Kimball had once staked against the swiftest animal the Indians could
produceand Willock rode the pride of the Indian band； which had almost
won the prize。 The ponies had been staked on the issue of that encounter
and the highwaymen had retained； by right of craft and force； what the
government would not permit its wards to barter or sell。
The race was long but always unequal。 The ruffians who had dashed
from the scene of the cabin almost in an even line； scattered and straggled
unevenly； now only two were able to send bullets whistling about
Willock's head； now only one found it possible to cover the distance。 At
last even he fell out of range。 The Indian pony； apparently tireless； shot on
like an arrow driven into the teeth of the wind； sending up behind a cloud
of dust that stretched backward toward the baffled pursuers； a long
wavering ribbon like a clew left to guide the band into the mysterious
depths of the Great American Desert。
When the last of the pursuers found further effort useless； he checked
his horse。 Willock now sat erect on the broncho's bare back； lightl