which, in the early light, seemed taller and far more noble looking
than any ordinary horse.

"Oh!" gasped Nan, "is that the outlaw?"

The distant horse stretched his neck gracefully and blew another
shrill call. He was headed toward the herd which was now being
urged into the valley by the punchers. The horse whistled again and
again.

"What a beautiful creature!" murmured Nan. "Oh, Rhoda! can't we
catch him?"

"That's the fellow," said the Western girl. "They have been trying
to rope him for three seasons. But nobody has ever been able to get
near enough to him yet. He is not a native horse, either."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Walter curiously.

"You know, horses ran wild in this country when the Spanish first
came in. These were of the mustang breed. The Indian pony--the
cayuse--was found up in Utah and Idaho. Horse-breeders down here
have bought Morgan sires and other blooded stock to run with the
mustangs.

"That fellow yonder was bought by Mr. Duranger, an Englishman, who
owned the Long Bow. The horse got away five years ago and ran off
with the wild herd, and now he is the wildest of the bunch. And
swift!"