Page:Ayesha, the return of She (IA cu31924013476175).pdf/165

Rh Why? he asked.

Because I believe that villain of a Khan has doctored our horses.

What for? To make them go lame?

No, Leo, to make them leave a strong scent upon dry ground.

He turned pale. Do you mean—those hounds?

I nodded. Then wasting no more time in words, we saddled up in frantic haste. Just as I fastened the last strap of my saddle I thought that a faint sound reached my ear.

Listen, I said. Again it came, and now there was no doubt about it. It was the sound of baying dogs.

By heaven! the death-hounds, said Leo.

Yes, I answered quietly enough, for at this crisis my nerves hardened and all fear left me, our friend the Khan is out a-hunting. That, is why he laughed.

What shall we do? asked Leo. Leave the horses?

I looked at the Peak. Its nearest flanks were miles and miles away.

Time enough to do that when we are forced. We can never reach that mountain on foot, and after they had run down the horses, they would hunt us by spoor or gaze. No, man, ride as you never rode before.

We sprang to our saddles, but before we gave rein I turned and looked behind me. It will be remembered that we had ridden up a long slope which terminated in a ridge, about three miles away, the border of the great plain whereon we stood. Now the sun had sunk behind that ridge so that although it was still light the plain had fallen into shadow. Therefore, while no distant object could be seen upon the plain, anything crossing the ridge remained visible enough in that clear air, at least to persons of keen sight.

This is what we saw. Over the ridge poured a multitude of little objects, and amongst the last of these galloped a man mounted on a great horse, who led another horse by the bridle.