midnight
In circling , the pursuer rides toward the pursued from an angle , gradually forcing his quarry into a circular course whose diameter narrows with every turn . This , however , was a trick Black Eagle had long ago learned to block . Sure of his superior speed he galloped away in a line straight as an arrow 's flight , paying no heed at all to the manner in which he was followed . Before midnight he had rejoined his band , while far off on the prairie was a lone cowboy moodily frying bacon over a sage-brush fire . But this pursuer was no faint heart . Late the next day he was sighted creeping cunningly up to windward . Again there was a race , not so long this time , for the day was far spent , but with the same result .