The Pacing Mustang 



camped that night on the trail of the jaded 

 mustangs. 



At dawn he found them easily close at hand, 

 and though they ran at first they did not go far 

 before they dropped into a walk. The battle 

 seemed nearly won now, for the chief difficulty 

 in the ' walk-down ' is to keep track of the 

 herd the first two or three days when they are 

 fresh. 



All that morning Jo kept in sight, generally 

 in close sight, of the band. About ten o'clock, 

 Charley relieved him near Jose Peak and that 

 day the mustangs walked only a quarter of a 

 mile ahead with much less spirit than the day 

 before and circled now more north again. At 

 night Charley was supplied with a fresh horse 

 and followed as before. 



Next day the mustangs walked with heads 

 held low, and in spite of the efforts of the Black 

 Pacer at times they were less than a hundred 

 yards ahead of their pursuer. 



The fourth and fifth days passed the same 

 way, and now the herd was nearly back to Ante- 

 lope Springs. So far all had come out as ex- 

 pected. The chase had been in a great circle 



244 



