Ronicky Doones Reward | Page 9

best in the
interests of big Blondy, and he had been struck down as a reward for
his pains. Moreover, the lightning speed with which Blondy had
whipped the gun out of its holster and the sureness of his shot were
ample demonstration that he was an expert in the use of the weapon.
And the thought of that expertness, instead of appalling Ronicky, filled
him with a fierce, warm exaltation. This was game worthy of his own
hand, he declared to himself, as he urged Lou forward.
So fast did she shoot down the street, that the cry of men running out of
the houses, as she passed, were blurred and mixed together. Once he
glanced over his shoulder to see yet others mounting for the pursuit.
Then he plunged out of the town and into the open country with a full
view of the chase. What he saw was the horse of Blondy streaking up
the trail, with a rapidly increasing advantage, while behind him the
posse lost ground at every stride. Ronicky Doone showed his teeth in
the fierceness of his satisfaction. He only had one regret, he told
himself, as he sent the mare on: that was that the men of the posse
would not be near enough to witness the action when he killed this
man!
In the meantime, whether a poor rider, or simply overconfident in the
ability of his horse, Blondy was sending his fleet pony away at a
heartbreaking rate. Perhaps he wished to shake off the crowd at once,
so as to be able to double around and cut through the country. But
Ronicky laughed exultantly to himself as he held in Lou. There was no
need of her bolting away at full speed up this killing grade. Never yet
had he seen her speed matched over such country as this. Though there
might be horses who could best her on the flat he would challenge the
world in a run over hill and dale.
Already the leading horses of the posse began to draw back to him, and
when they topped the first long slope rising out of Twin Springs, he
was neck and neck with the two leaders. They were two hardy veterans

of the cow country, he could tell at a glance, and by their greeting he
guessed that they both might have heard of him before, for they called:
"Pull your hoss in, Doone. Give us a chance at the fun, too, won't you?
Don't hog it all. We're Twin Springs men, and it's up to us to be in at
the death."
But, instead of obeying, he merely waved his hand and let Lou drift
easily away toward the lead; and so she shot down the road and twisted
around the next turn.
The gray pony of Blondy was no longer racing in front. Far to the left
down a gulley went the speedy little streak of horseflesh. Lou herself
did not relish the plunge in pursuit, but, after shaking her wise head as
one in doubt, she dipped over the edge of the ravine and went down,
sliding like a dog.
The rest of the riders from Twin Springs milled for a time on the verge
of the drop, and then a few began to go over, but they went so slowly,
and so many of the horses refused, even when the riders were willing,
that Ronicky, glancing back when the opportunity came to him, could
see at a glance that the race was ended, except between him and
Blondy.
He was in no haste to make up ground going down the sharp declivity.
The limbs of Lou were more precious to him than his revenge. And
when they came to the killing angle of the far slope, he again let her
take her time, talking kindly to her and bidding her find the best way.
And she, big heart that she was, alternately laid an ear back to listen to
the voice of the master and again pricked it, as she examined her course.
She could judge ground with the wisdom of a very Solomon. She knew
at a glance, or so it seemed, when a rock might roll under her weight,
and when an apparently loose slide of gravel was in reality cemented to
solidity. And therefore, of course, she was invaluable to Ronicky in his
careless cross-country cuts. For he scorned beaten trails and was
accustomed to strike across country with the freedom of a bird picking
its way.
Now Lou gained the crest of the slope, and they entered upon better

ground beyond. It was still not a well-beaten trail, but it was well
enough defined by cattle to give Lou good footing. And here she
commenced to gain in real earnest. For