It was not alone. Instantly from a point dead
ahead rose another, grooving into the echo of the
first in a staccato yelp. Then the first opened
up with a choking whine that lifted steadily into
an ecstatic mating-eall, and Pat saw a black something,
blacker even than the night, leap against
the far, faint skyline, dangle seemingly a trembling
moment, then flash from view across the desert.

Which was but one of the many incidents that
served to hold his interest and increase his alertness
as he fox-trotted along the road. Nor was
one of them without its informing value. For
this was his first night journey, and what he saw
now would remain with him vividly, helping him
to become as successful on night trails as he was
now by day.

Something else came to him out of the darkness.
It was off to his distant right and well back from
the river. It was a tiny gleam of light, shining
out of the density of the desert. He watched it
with studied interest. It glowed like a cat's eye,
and, fascinated, quietly speculative, he kept his
eyes upon it until, as he turned a bend in the trail,
he saw another light flash into view close beside
the first, and equal to it in brilliancy. Suddenly,
watching these lights, his interest leaped higher.
This was his destination. He instinctively knew
it. And presently he was certain of it, for his
master, urging him to the right, now sent him
along-a narrow path that led straight toward the
lights.

Within a very few moments Pat found himself

[[160]]

p159 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p160w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p161

v?