Wildfire's ears and nose were pointed that way. Slone trotted him down toward
the edge of this cedar clump so that he could see beyond. Before he reached
it, however, he saw something blue, moving, waving, lifting.
"Smoke!" muttered Slone. And he thought more of the danger of fire on that
windy height than he did of another peril to himself.
Wildfire was hard to hold as he rounded the edge of the cedars.
Slone saw a line of leaping flame, a line of sweeping smoke, the grass on fire
. . . horses!--a man!
Wildfire whistled his ringing blast of hate and menace, his desert challenge
to another stallion.
The man whirled to look.
Slone saw Joel Creech--and Sage King--and Lucy, half naked, bound on his back!
Joy, agony, terror in lightning-swift turns, paralyzed Slone. But Wildfire
lunged out on the run.
Sage King reared in fright, came down to plunge away, and with a magnificent
leap cleared the line of fire.
Slone, more from habit than thought, sat close in the saddle. A few of
Wildfire's lengthening strides, quickened Slone's blood.
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