Part 29 (1/2)

”Towards Rainbow Ridge. It wa'n't more'n ten minutes ago.”

As Jack rode off a sudden thought came to him.

”I wonder if this could be a clew to the robber?” he asked himself. ”Queer thing about his not riding his horse up to Ford's cabin. Why should he do that unless he was afraid the horse would be recognized. Why should he--Great Scott!” suddenly exclaimed Jack aloud. ”I believe I know why. He had Sunger, and didn't dare let Ford see him! That's it! I believe I'm on the track of the man who has my pony and the Argent letters!”

CHAPTER XXV

JACK'S TRICK--CONCLUSION

Jack called to his horse, which really was a speedy mount.

”Come on, old boy!” he cried. ”You may not be as good as Sunger, but he's had a hard time lately, being kept out among the mountains, and I don't believe he's up to the mark. We may catch him if that fellow stays to the road, though ordinarily my pony would run away from you, Dobbin.”

Jack didn't care much what he called this horse. But he really liked the animal, as he did all horseflesh, and the beast responded readily to him.

On they swept down the mountain trail. Jack's eyes watched eagerly as he made turn after turn at top speed; but for some time he saw no signs of any rider ahead of him.

”There's no way of getting off on a side trail for the next half mile,”

reflected Jack, as he rode on. ”If I can come up to him in that distance I'll have him.”

He felt to see if his revolver was in readiness. He did not know just what he would do, but it was a desperate situation, or it would be if he should overtake the fellow.

And luck was with Jack--luck and good judgment. As he made the last turn in that part of the trail from which there was no escape by a side road, he saw, just ahead of him, a rider on a horse which Jack knew in a moment.

”That's Sunger!” he cried. ”I've found him!”

Of course Jack could not be sure that the man on his pony was the same one who had robbed the safe. But Jack knew his own steed, and when, out West, a man is found riding a stolen horse, it is prime evidence against him. He has to prove his case, and is subject to arrest on sight. Of course he may have innocently acquired the stolen animal; but he has to prove this to be the case.

”That's my pony, and I'm going to have him back!” thought Jack. ”And I'm going to get that man, too! Come on, boy!”

For one of the few times in his life Jack used the whip. But he was humane.

His horse responded with a burst of speed. But now the man ahead, hearing galloping hoofs behind him, urged on Sunger. And Sunger still could run.

Though Jack saw, with regret, that his pony had suffered, still the wonderful speed of the animal had abated but little.

”He's going to get away from me!” cried the lad, as he saw how Sunger was running. ”And that's the man, else why should he try to escape?”

Then Jack began to think quickly. He had trained Sunger to halt instantly when he called ”Whoa!” to him, in a certain tone. If the animal were going at top speed, and Jack yelled that word, Sunger would brace up with his fore feet, slide with his hind ones, and bring up standing, like a train of cars when the engineer throws on the emergency air brakes.

Of course Jack was never in the saddle when he worked this trick with Sunger. Had he been he might have been hurt. But he had given his pony this training so that in going down dangerous slopes Sunger would know how to bring himself suddenly to a halt.

”I wonder if I can make him hear,” thought Jack. ”If I can, and if he'll stop, there'll be something doing in a minute.”

Jack saw that he could not hope to overtake the man ahead of him by an ordinary chase. The horse the pony rider bestrode was not fast enough. And a short distance ahead was a place on the trail where the suspect could escape by a side path.

”Here goes!” murmured Jack.

In his loudest voice he cried out: