"Did ye say, Murphy, as how it wasn't Nolan after all who plugged the
Major?"
"I 'm damned--if I did. Who--else was it?"
"Why, I dunno. Sorter blamed odd though, thet ghost should be
a-hauntin' ye. Darn if it ain't creepy 'nough ter make a feller
believe most anythin'."
Murphy drew himself up heavily into his saddle. Then all at once he
shoved the muzzle of a "45" into the other's face. "Ye say nuther
word--'bout thet, an' I 'll make--a ghost outer ye--blame lively. Now,
ye shet up--if ye ride with me."
They moved forward at a walk and reached a higher level, across which
the night wind swept, bearing a touch of cold in its breath as though
coming from the snow-capped mountains to the west. There was renewed
life in this invigorating air, and Murphy spurred forward, his
companion pressing steadily after. They were but two flitting shadows
amid that vast desolation of plain and mountain, their horses' hoofs
barely audible. What imaginings of evil, what visions of the past, may
have filled the half-crazed brain of the leading horseman is
unknowable. He rode steadily against the black night wall, as though
unconscious of his actions, yet forgetting no trick, no skill of the
plains. But the equally silent man behind clung to him like a shadow
of doom, watching his slightest motion--a Nemesis that would never let
go.
When the first signs of returning day appeared in the east, the two
left their horses in a narrow canyon, and crept to the summit of a
ridge. Below lay the broad valley of the Powder. Slowly the misty
light strengthened into gray, and became faintly tinged with crimson,
while the green and brown tints deepened beneath the advancing light,
which ever revealed new clefts in the distant hills. Amid those more
northern bluffs a thin spiral of blue smoke was ascending. Undoubtedly
it was some distant Indian signal, and the wary old plainsman watched
it as if fascinated. But the younger man lay quietly regarding him, a
drawn revolver in his hand. Then Murphy turned his head, and looked
back into the other's face.