Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/247

 The marshal knew the reason for this; that it would be a useless sacrifice for both to stay with Flash. He would gladly have taken the lead but knew that the dog would not work for him. He shook his head regretfully and allowed Moran to proceed alone. He followed at a distance of a hundred yards.

When Flash realized that Moran was following the trail he was filled with doubt. This man was the girl’s enemy; therefore he was also Moran’s. If his master elected to play the foolish game of tracking him it must be through a mistake of identity whereby Moran believed he was following a friend. Flash held the trail merely from the habit of submitting to Moran’s will but he held it reluctantly.

He presently detected that Moran was working this trail in a different manner from the way he had worked the previous ones. He made frequent stops and stood motionless while he peered ahead through the trees. Several times he reached back and loosened the automatic in its holster. Flash caught glimpses of Vermont moving noiselessly along behind. He carried a Winchester with his thumb on the hammer. Never once did he cross one of the little open glades in the timber until