the daring escape of the prisoner did not tend to improve the temper of capt. asbury, and he indulged in a number of emphatic expressions, during which monteith sterry was dignified enough to hold his peace.
but the leader of the stockmen quickly recovered his self-poise and accepted the matter as one of the peculiar incidents liable to take place at any time.
his version of the difficulty with the rustlers differed from that given by vesey. they rode up to the house, not knowing who dwelt there, and were received with a shot, which, fortunately, did no damage. duke vesey was at the rear, near the structure in which the horses were stabled, when he hurriedly mounted and dashed off, just as he had recently done. he did not make a fight like his companion, who, as was represented, stood his ground. he was repeatedly summoned to surrender, but paid no heed to it, and it became a choice whether to shoot him down or allow him to empty the saddles.
while sterry could not feel so well disposed toward vesey after hearing this account, he did not regret the part he had acted, and he was also suspicious that capt. asbury had tinged his version with a little romance.
the incident itself was of small moment, but the consequences were likely to be far-reaching and important. one of the rustlers had fallen and his companion had escaped. his story of the fight would place the blame wholly upon the stockmen and inflame the feeling between the rustlers and ranchmen, already at a dangerous intensity.
capt. asbury was out with his men for the purpose of arresting several of the most notorious of the offenders against the law. those rustlers were sufficiently powerful to make trouble. if they were given time to organize they could sweep the captain and his little party from the earth. there was reason to believe they would do that very thing, now that duke vesey was at liberty to spread his account of the last outrage.
capt. asbury held a brief consultation with his men, all, including sterry, taking part. the consensus of opinion was that they ought to effect a junction with some of the larger parties of stockmen known to be abroad, or withdraw to some safe point like buffalo, riverside, or the nearest military station.
ira inman, larch cadmus and the others were on the "war-path," and at no great distance. morning would probably find them in sight, if the stockmen should stay where they were.
capt. asbury decided to ride to the westward, in the hope of effecting a junction with friends or of reaching a point where they would be secure against their assailants.
the night was well advanced, but their horses had done comparatively little travelling and were capable of a good deal more. the captain took the lead, holding only occasional converse with his men as he swung along at an easy pace; but he, like the rest, was on the lookout for danger, which was liable to approach from any point of the compass.
a marked change showed itself in the temperature. the weather, as will be remembered, had been unusually mild earlier in the evening, but it now became sharp and chilly, as though the breath from the snowy mountain crests was wafted down upon them.
in a valley-like depression, an hour later, where there was an abundance of grass, beside a flowing stream of water, the party went into camp, with a couple of their number on guard, just as they would have done if in a hostile country—which in point of fact was the case.
the night passed, however, without any disturbance, and all were astir before sunrise. the men were provided with several days' rations, while the succulent grass afforded the animals all the food they needed, so there was no trouble on that score.
capt. asbury and monteith sterry mounted their horses and rode to the crest of the nearest elevation, which was fully 100 feet in height and commanded a wide sweep of country. the morning was clear and bright, and the first glance they cast to the northward revealed a stirring sight. a horseman was less than a half-mile away, and riding at headlong speed, as if in the extremity of mortal fright.
"what can it mean?" asked the puzzled leader; "no one is pursuing him, and i see no cause for his panic."
"i suspect," replied sterry, thoughtfully, "that he is a messenger bringing important tidings to you."
