Nagger, powerful as he was, could not sustain the tremendous shock, and went down.

Slone saved himself with a rider's supple skill, falling clear of the horse, and he leaped again into the saddle as Nagger pounded up.

Nagger braced his huge frame and held the plunging stallion.

But the saddle slipped a little, the cinches cracked.

Slone eased the strain by wheeling after Wildfire.
The horses had worked away from the fire, and Wildfire, free of the stifling smoke, began to break and lunge and pitch, plunging round Nagger in a circle, running blindly, but with unerring scent.