Hiscompanionhadnoticedthegroundalready，andassented。Therewerenotracksanywheretobeseenoverwhichwinterhadnotcomeandgonesincetheyhadbeenmade。Presentlythetrailwoundintoasultrygulchthathemmedintheheatandseemedtodrawdownthesun’sraysmorevertically。Thesorrelhorsechosethisplacetomakeatryforliberty。Hesuddenlywhirledfromthetrail，draggingwithhimhislessinventivefellow。LeavingtheVirginianwiththeoldmare，Balaamheadedthemoff，forPedrowasquick，andtheycamejumpingdownthebanktogether，butswiftlycrossedupontheotherside，gettingmuchhigherbeforetheycouldbereached。Itwasnoplaceforthissortofgame，asthesidesoftheravinewereploughedwithsteepchannels，brokenwithjuttingknobsofrock，andimpededbyshorttwistedpinesthatswungoutfromtheirrootshorizontallyoverthepitchofthehill。TheVirginianhelped，butusedhishorsewithmorejudgment，keepingasmuchonthelevelaspossible，andendeavoringtoanticipatethenextturnoftherunawaysbeforetheymadeit，whileBalaamattemptedtofollowthemclose，wheelingshortwhentheydoubled，heavilybeatingupthefaceoftheslope，veeringagaintocomedowntothepointhehadleft，andwheneverhefeltPedrobegintoflag，drivinghisspursintothehorseandforcinghimtokeepupthepace。Hehadsetouttoovertakeandcaptureonthesideofthemountainthesetwoanimalswhohadbeenrunningwildformanyweeks，andnowcarriednoweightbutthemselves，andthefutilityofsuchworkcouldnotpenetratehisobstinateandrisingtemper。Hehadmadeuphismindnottogivein。TheVirginiansoondecidedtomoveslowlyalongforthepresent，preventingthewildhorsesfrompassingdownthegulchagain，butotherwisesavinghisownanimalfromuselessfatigue。HesawthatPedrowasreekingwet，withmouthopen，andconstantlystumbling，thoughhegallopedon。Thecow-puncherkeptthegroupinsight，drivingthepackhorseinfrontofhim，andwatchingthetacticsofthesorrel，whohadnowundoubtedlybecometheleaderoftheexpedition，andwasatthetopofthegulch，invaintryingtofindanoutletthroughitsrockyrimtothelevelsabove。Hesoonjudgedthistobenothoroughfare，andchanginghisplan，trotteddowntothebottomanduptheotherside，gainingmoreandmore；forinthisnewdescentPedrohadfallentwice。Thenthesorrelshowedtheclevernessofagenuinelyvicioushorse。TheVirginiansawhimstopandfalltokickinghiscompanionwithalltheenergythatashortropewouldpermit。Theropeslipped，andboth，unencumbered，reachedthetopanddisappeared。LeavingthepackhorseforBalaam，theVirginianstartedafterthemandcameintoahightableland，beyondwhichthemountainsbeganinearnest。Therunawaysweremovingacrosstowardtheseataneasyrate。Hefollowedforamoment，thenlookingback，andseeingnosignofBalaam，waited，forthehorsesweresurenottogofastwhentheyreachedgoodpastureorwater。
Hegotoutofthesaddleandsatontheground，watching，tillthemarecameupslowlyintosight，andBalaambehindher。Whentheywerenear，BalaamdismountedandstruckPedrofearfully，untilthestickbroke，andheraisedthesplinteredhalftocontinue。
Seeingthepony’scondition，theVirginianspoke，andsaid，“I’dletthathawssalone。“
Balaamturnedtohim，butwhollypossessedbypassiondidnotseemtohear，andtheSouthernernoticedhowwhiteandlikethatofamaniachisfacewas。Thestickslidtotheground。
“Heplayedhewastired，“saidBalaam，lookingattheVirginianwithglazedeyes。Theviolenceofhisrageaffectedhimphysically，likesomestrokeofillness。“Heplayedoutonmeonpurpose。“Theman’svoicewasdryandlight。“He’sperfectlyfreshnow，“hecontinued，andturnedagaintothecoughing，swayinghorse，whoseeyeswereclosed。Nothavingthestick，heseizedtheanimal’sunresistingheadandshookit。TheVirginianwatchedhimamoment，androsetostopsuchaspectacle。Then，asifconscioushewasdoingnorealhurt，Balaamceased，andturningagaininslowfashionlookedacrossthelevel，wheretherunawayswerestillvisible。
“I’llhavetotakeyourhorse，“hesaid，“mine’splayedoutonme。“
“Youain’goin’totouchmyhawss。“
AgainthewordsseemednotentirelytoreachBalaam’sunderstanding，sodulledbyragewerehissenses。Hemadenoanswer，butmountedPedro；andthefailingponywalkedmechanicallyforward，whiletheVirginian，puzzled，stoodlookingafterhim。Balaamseemedwithoutpurposeofgoinganywhere，andstoppedinamoment。Suddenlyhewasatworkatsomething。Thissightwasoddandnewtolookat。ForafewsecondsithadnomeaningtotheVirginianashewatched。Thenhismindgraspedthehorror，toolate。EvenwithhiscryofexecrationandthetigerspringthathegavetostopBalaam，themonstrositywaswrought。
Pedrosankmotionless，hisheadrollingflatontheearth。Balaamwasjammedbeneathhim。ThemanhadstruggledtohisfeetbeforetheVirginianreachedthespot，andthehorsethenliftedhisheadandturneditpiteouslyround。
ThenvengeancelikeablaststruckBalaam。TheVirginianhurledhimtotheground，liftedandhurledhimagain，liftedhimandbeathisfaceandstruckhisjaw。Theman’sstrongox-likefightingavailednothing。Hefendedhiseyesasbesthecouldagainstthesesledge-hammerblowsofjustice。Hefeltblindlyforhispistol。Thatarmwascaughtandwrenchedbackward，andcrushedanddoubled。Heseemedtohearhisownbones，andsetupahideousscreamingofhateandpain。Thenthepistolatlastcameout，andtogetherwiththehandthatgraspeditwasinstantlystampedintothedust。OnceagainthecreaturewasliftedandslungsothathelayacrossPedro’ssaddleablurred，dingy，wetpulp。
Vengeancehadcomeandgone。Themanandthehorseweremotionless。Aroundthem，silenceseemedtogatherlikeawitness。
“Ifyouaredead，“saidtheVirginian，“Iamgladofit。“HestoodlookingdownatBalaamandPedro，proneinthemiddleoftheopentableland。ThenhesawBalaamlookingathim。Itwasthequietstareofsightwithoutthoughtorfeeling，themerevisualsensealone，almostfrightfulinitsseparationfromanyself。
Butashewatchedthoseeyes，theselfcamebackintothem。“I
havenotkilledyou，“saidtheVirginian。“Well，Iain’tgoin’togoanymoretoyu’——ifthat’sasatisfactiontoknow。“
ThenhebegantoattendtoBalaamwithimpersonalskill，likesomeonehiredforthepurpose。“Heain’thurtbad，“heassertedaloud，asifthemanweresomenamelesspatient；andthentoBalaamheremarked，“Ireckonitmighthaveputalesstoughmanthanyououtofbusinessforquiteawhile。I’mgoin’togetsomewaternow。“Whenhereturnedwiththewater，Balsamwassittingup，lookingabouthim。Hehadnotyetspoken，nordidhenowspeak。Thesunlightflashedonthesix-shooterwhereitlay，andtheVirginiansecuredit。“Sheain’tsoprettyasshewas，“heremarked，asheexaminedtheweapon。“Butshe’llgorighthandyyet。“
StrengthwasinameasurereturningtoPedro。Hewasayounghorse，andtheexhaustionneitherofanguishnorofover-ridingwasenoughtoaffecthimlongorseriously。Hegothimselfonhisfeetandwalkedwaveringlyovertotheoldmare，andstoodbyherforcomfort。Thecow-punchercameuptohim，andPedro，afterstartingbackslightly，seemedtocomprehendthathewasinfriendlyhands。Itwasplainthathewouldsoonbeabletotravelslowlyifnoweightwasonhim，andthathewouldbeaverygoodhorseagain。Whethertheyabandonedtherunawaysornot，therewasnostayingherefornighttoovertakethemwithoutfoodorwater。Thedaywasstillhigh，andwhatitsnextfewhourshadinstoretheVirginiancouldnotsay，andheleftthemtotakecareofthemselves，determiningmeanwhilethathewouldtakecommandoftheminutesandmaintainthepositionhehadassumedbothastoBalaamandPedro。HetookPedro’ssaddleoff，threwthemare’spacktotheground，putBalaam’ssaddleonher，andonthatstowedortiedheroriginalpack，whichhecoulddo，sinceitwassolight。ThenhewenttoBalaam，whowassittingup。
“Ireckonyoucantravel，“saidtheVirginian。“Andyourhawsscan。Ifyou’recomin’withme，you’llrideyourmare。I’mgoin’
totrailthemhawsses。Ifyou’renotcomin’withme，yourhawsscomeswithme，andyou’lltakefiftydollarsforhim。
Balaamwasindifferenttothisgoodbargain。Hedidnotlookattheotherorspeak，butroseandsearchedabouthimontheground。TheVirginianwasalsoindifferentastowhetherBalaamchosetoanswerornot。SeeingBalaamsearchingtheground，hefinishedwhathehadtosay。
“Ihaveyoursix-shooter，andyou’llhaveitwhenI’mreadyforyouto。Now，I’mgoin’，“heconcluded。
Balaam’sintellectwasclearenoughnow，andhesawthatthoughtherestofthisjourneywouldbenearlyintolerable，itmustgoon。Helookedattheimpassivecow-punchergettingreadytonoandtyingaropeonPedro’snecktoleadhim，thenhelookedatthemountainswheretherunawayshadvanished，anditdidnotseemcredibletohimthathehadcomeintosuchstraits。Hewashelpedstifflyonthemare，andthethreehorsesinsinglefiletookuptheirjourneyoncemore，andcameslowlyamongthemountainsTheperpetualdesertwasended，andtheycrossedasmallbrook，wheretheymissedthetrail。TheVirginiandismountedtofindwherethehorseshadturnedoff，anddiscoveredthattheyhadgonestraightuptheridgebythewatercourse。
“There’sbeenamancampedinhyehinsideamonth，“hesaid，kickinguparagofredflannel。“Whitemanandtwohawsses。Ourshavewentuphisoldtracks。“
ItwasnoteasyforBalaamtospeakyet，andhekepthissilence。
ButherememberedthatShortyhadspokenofatrapperwhohadstartedforSunkCreek。
Forthreehourstheyfollowedtherunaways’courseoversofterground，andsteadilyascending，passedoneortwosprings，atlength，wherethemudwasnotyetsettledinthehoof-prints。
Thentheycamethroughacornerofpineforestanddownasuddenbankamongquaking-aspstoagreenpark。Heretherunawaysbesideastreamweregrazingatease，butsawthemcoming，andstartedonagain，followingdownthestream。Forthepresentalltobedonewastokeeptheminsight。Thiscreekreceivedtributariesandwidened，makingavalleyforitself。Abovethebottom，liningthefirstterraceoftheridge，beganthepines，andstretchedback，unbrokenoverinterveningsummitandbasin，toceaseatlastwherethehigherpeakspresided。
“Thishyeh’sthemiddleforkofSunkCreek，“saidtheVirginian。
“We’llgetontoourrightroadagainwheretheyjoin。“
Soonagametrailmarkeditselfalongthestream。Ifthiswouldonlycontinue，therunawayswouldbenearlysuretofollowitdownintothecanyon。Thentherewouldbenowayforthembuttogoonandcomeoutintotheirowncountry，wheretheywouldmakefortheJudge’sranchoftheirownaccord。Thegreatpointwastoreachthecanyonbeforedark。Theypassedintopermanentshadow；
forthoughtheothersideofthecreekshoneinfullday，thesunhaddepartedbehindtheridgesimmediatelyabovethem。Coolnessfilledtheair，andthesilence，whichinthisdeepvalleyofinvadingshadowseemedtoosilent，wasrelievedbythebirds。Notbirdsofsong，butafreakishbandofgraytalkativeobservers，whocamecallingandcroakingalongthroughthepines，andinspectedthecavalcade，keepingitcompanyforawhile，andthenflyingupintothewoodsagain。Thetravellerscameroundacorneronalittlespreadofmarsh，andfromsomewhereinthemiddleofitroseabuzzardandsailedonitsblackpinionsintotheairabovethem，wheelingandwheeling，butdidnotgrowdistant。Asitsweptoverthetrail，somethingfellfromitsclaw，aragofredflannel；andeachmaninturnlookedatitashishorsewentby。
“Iwonderifthere’splentyelkanddeerhyeh？“saidtheVirginian。
“Iguessthereis，“Balaamreplied，speakingatlast。Thetravellershadbecomestrangelyreconciled。
“There’sgame’mostalloverthesemountains，“theVirginiancontinued；“countrynotbeensettledlongenoughtoscarethemout。“Sotheyfellintocasualconversation，andforthefirsttimeweregladofeachother’scompany。
Thesoundofanewbirdcamefromthepinesabove——thehootofanowl——andwasansweredfromsomeotherpartofthewood。Thistheydidnotparticularlynoticeatfirst，butsoontheyheardthesamenote，unexpectedlydistant，likeanecho。Thegametrail，nowquiteadefinedpathbesidetheriver，showednosignofchangingitscourseorfadingoutintoblankground，astheseuncertainguidesdosooften。Itledconsistentlyinthedesireddirection，andthetwomenwererelievedtoseeitcontinue。Notonlyweretherunawayseasiertokeeptrackof，butbetterspeedwasmadealongthisvalley。Thepervadingimminenceofnightmoreandmoredispelledthelingeringafternoon，thoughtherewasyetnotwilightintheopen，andthehighpeaksoppositeshoneyellowintheinvisiblesun。Butnowtheowlshootedagain。TheirmusichadsomethinginitthatcausedboththeVirginianandBalaamtolookupatthepinesandwishthatthisvalleywouldend。Perhapsitwasearlyfornight-birdstobegin；orperhapsitwasthatthesoundneverseemedtofallbehind，butmovedabreastofthemamongthetreesabove，astheyrodeonwithoutpausedownbelow；
someinfluencemadethefacesofthetravellersgrave。Thespellofevilwhichthesightofthewheelingbuzzardhadbegun，deepenedaseveninggrew，whileeverandagainalongthecreekthesingularcallandansweroftheowlswanderedamongthedarknessofthetreesnotfaraway。
Thesunwasgonefromthepeakswhenatlengththeothersideofthestreamopenedintoalongwidemeadow。Thetrailtheyfollowed，aftercrossingaflatwillowthicketbythewater，ranintodensepines，thathereforthefirsttimereachedallthewaydowntothewater’sedge。Thetwomencameoutofthewillows，andsawaheadthecapriciousrunawaysleavethebottomandgoupthehillandenterthewood。
“Wemusthinderthat，“saidtheVirginian；andhedroppedPedro’srope。“There’syoursixshooter。Youkeepthetrail，andcampdownthere“——hepointedtowherethetreescametothewater——“tillI