San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-27


Fanny Riggsby's heart sank within
her as she heard the gruff challenge and
saw the dim outlines of several men
suddenly start up from the grass not
twenty yards away.
"Who goes there?" repeated the voice.
Halt, or we'll fret"
Fanny knew in an instant that she had
been discovered by the dreaded cattle
men, but no thought of surrendcring
herself to them entered her breast. She
made no answer to the challenge, but
leaning forward she struck her horse a
sharp blow with the picket rope which
she held cooled in her hand, Quick as a
flash the animal bounded forward and
sped swiftly across the prairie. At the
same instant the loud crack, of firearms
broke the stiffness of the night, and the
spiteful whiz of bullets sounded close to
Fanny's head. ...E is
Luckily none of the bullets took ef-
feet, and lying fiat upon her horses neck
she dashed up the slope and had soon
crossed a gentle swell that skirted the
ravine. .... s.. r. s'.r o.
A succession of bitter oaths came from
the discounted men as they saw the
rider gallop swiftly away untouched by
their bullets. Owing to the darkness
they had been unable to discover
whether it was man or woman that was
mounted upon the horse, but they had
rightly guessed that it was some one
from the inn who was trying to escape
to the settlement.
This was sufficient to rouse the cattle
men to immediate action. After all the
upon the settlers garrisoned at the inn,
the very thought that they were about
to be outwitted at the last drove them
into rage and desperation. .
Fanny knew that the men were not
mounted, and it was likely that their
horses were some, distance from where
she had seen them. Urging her horse
forward at the top of his speed she had
soon crossed the little hill and was be-
yond the sight of her pursuers. That she
would be pursued as soon as the men
could get their horses she felt convinced,
and it was her purpose to put us much
distance between herself and the foe as
possible while she had chance.
The horse she rode was noble ami
NAL, gentle but high spirited and fleet
of limb, capable of great speed and en-
durance For full two miles Fanny rode
at rapid rate before she dared slacken
her speed. Then pulling her horse into
a slow canter. she listened for sounds of
pursuit.
For moment she could detect no
sound save the murmur of the night
wind through the long grass. Then
there came a low rumbling sound from
behind that resembled the roll of distant
thunder. The rumbling sound grew
louder and louder. Then glancing back
ward Fanny uttered low cry of terror
as she saw the dim outlines of squad
of mounted men laundering down upon
her.
AS if aware of the danger that threat
ened his young rider, the horse sprang
| forward with the nimbleness of deer
and was away like the wind. The sud-
| den plunge caused the terrified girl to
sway from side to side, almost losing
her seat. With an involuntary move,
ment she leaned forward, clutching the
horses name with one hand and holding
the rope reins tightly in the other.
| The movement of her body caused her
to pull suddenly upon the reins. AS she
did so she felt quick loosening of the
rope; then it slipped from the horses
head and fell dangling at her side. The
horse was bridleless.