After
several days he rode across a tall red-roan stallion, a mere wreck of
a horse with lean sides and pendant head and glazed eye. It was a long
moment before Dan recognized Silent's peerless mount, Red Pete. The
outlaw had changed his exhausted horse for a common pony. The end of
the long trail must be near.
The whole range followed that chase with breathless interest. It was
like the race of Hector and Achilles around the walls of Troy. And
when they met there would be a duel of giants. Twice Whistling Dan was
sighted. Once Jim Silent fought a running duel with a posse fresh from
Elkhead. The man hunters were alert, but it was their secret hope that
the two famous outlaws would destroy each other, but how the wild
chase would end no one could know. At last Buck Daniels rode to tell
Kate Cumberland strange news.
When he stumbled into the ranch house, Kate and her father rose,
white-faced. There was an expression of waiting terror in their eyes.
"Buck!" cried Joe.
"Hush! Dad," said Kate. "It hasn't come yet! Buck, what has happened?"
"The end of the world has come for Dan," he said. "That devil
Silent--"
"Dan," cried old Joe, and rushed around the table to Buck.
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