San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-10-18
THROUGH LANCER;
OR
LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.
She Shnnk her hpaIt.
Or

She shook her heat.
Can you try? You musht-yesh,
you musht try it. Try to draw your
shelf amongst the bushes. By degreesh.
Once by me you are shafe.n
Flo needed no second bidding. Isaac
Lewis's voice had brought back all her
courage. for she felt the Jew would not
desert her.
Cautiously, noiselessly, she drew her
self behind the tree trunk, leaving the
cloak where she had been reclining
Now and then she paused to observe
Archer. He made no move.
What anxious moments they were.-
How long they seemed.
At last she was shrOuded in the dark
ness, but the touch Of the Jews hand
showed her his presence.
Can you kneel and follow me-" he
asked.
Eyes, 90 on" And she followed,
trembling at the rustic of every leaf.
In few minutes they reached clear
space, and Flo saw dawn was breaking,
and also that horse stood ready near
her.
The Jew quickly helped her to the
saddle, sprang up behind with wonder
full agility for 50 elderly man, and
carefully began to move away from the
spot.
She was rescued-she was free. No,
not yet. How her heart beat. What
was that?
a Cry-a shout.
Her flight was discovered. The cry
and the shout were Herbert Archer's.
caution ish no longer pOShible,"
whispered Isaac. ''Our hOrshesh mustn't
prove who hash the beSht heelSh," and
boil ha hn
Behind. Flo heard Herbert Archer's
voice shouting, then others. Then
came the sharp tramp of horses crash
ing through the underwood.
Il was right" she calculated almost
unconsciOusly; ''there are more than
he. 1t was plot"
more, yesh; there are three. MiSh
er Archer and the villainsh who carried
you Off"
"Oh, good Lewis"
flush! veil talk after, Mish Grain
ger. We must ride-ride for our lives"
With voice and heel he urged on the
horse, whose speed, however, was de-
tered by the double burden. Through
bush and tangle the Jew forced his way,
while the voices of the purSuerS were
too soon found to come after them.
The Jew listened; yes, there were
three regular beats-there were three
riders. He guessed who they were.
The two abductors of the girl, and
Herbert Archer. He had laid this plot
to win lfer by gratitude for her sup
posed rescue.
Those shots had been very harmlessly
exchanged. There were, then, three to
one. If he did not outride them he had
done little good.
~ hn 10 N
day had now broken; its gray light, soon
changing to golden, began to shine
through the trees. As it frightened yet
more, the Jew grew aware that he had
lost the track.
There was no time to seek to find it..
The loud thud of the pursuers' horses
told him that they were gaining on him.
He could but continue madly forward.
Flo chung to him, silent, trembling,
anxious.
Once or twice she had raised her eyes
to his face, strange perpleXed wonder
on her own. He had not noted it. His
gaze was bent in advance.
Nearly two hours ride.
The Jews horse beginning to show
unmistakable signs of exhaustion,
needed more urging, while the pursuers
were gaining every stride.
''They are closer" calculated Flo,
alarmed. "They will overtake u.s."
The Jew made no reply.
''Oh, Isaac, dear Isaac, she cried, en-
treatingly, "do not let me fall again in
to that mans hands. Take my life
rather Heaven will pardon you, and
| shall bless your hand"
The Jews countenance was set. Fol-
a moment he did not reply, then, taking
from pocket clasp-knife, he gave it
to her.
"That will help defend you from him, y
he said. but don't fear. | will save
yOu.n
Again there was silence, broken only
by the horses hOofs.
The Jews features grew more deter
mined. A means of escape was in his
brain, but it was of so desperate ma
ture that he hesitated to have recourse
to it.
But upon one point he was resolved
Flo should not again fall into Herbert
Archer's power.
On the contrary, that the latter's in
fanny should be exposed to all.
Yet if he were overtaken what chance
did he run against three desperate and
armed men?