CHAPTER XIX.
THE BURNED RANCH.
Meanwhile Monteith Sterry was making the best of his opportunity.
It was no great exploit for him to slip out of the back door, when he found his enemies gathering in front; but, had he not been convinced that the movement was in the interests of his friends, as well as himself, he would not have made it.
His flight was at a moderate pace for several hundred yards, by which time he considered himself safe from pursuit and gave his mare free rein.

Her speed was rapid, but she was capable of maintaining it for hours without fatigue.
Sterry's intention was to make his way to the ranch of his friend, Dick Hawkridge, which lay to the westward.

He began veering in that direction, so that it may be said that while Inman and his band were riding toward him, he was approaching them.

Two causes, however, prevented a meeting of the parties.
Sterry was much further out than the rustlers, and in the darkness they could see nothing, if indeed they could hear anything of each other.

Then he had not ridden far when he was checked by an unexpected sight.
A bright red glow appeared to the northward in the sky.