San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-13

JWlTl, anu uuIulueu, IOT SdytUy VI
heart, "Ah non giunge" to the beat of
his mustangs hoofs.
We were riding at the bottom of lit
tie hollow. The dusty trail across the
unfenced wilderness, worn smooth and
broad as turnpike by the march of
myriad caravans, climbed up the slopes
before and behind us, like the wake of a
ship between surges. The mail train
had disappeared over the ridge. Our
horses had gone with it. Brent and
were alone, as if the world held no other
tenants.
Suddenly we heard the rush of horse
man after us.
Before we could turn he was down the
hillock-he was at our side.
He pulled his horse hard upon his
launches and glared at us. A fierce look
it was; yet bewildered look. as of one
suddenly cheated of revenge he had
laid finger on.
He glared at us, we gazed at him, an
instant, without word.
A CHASTITY pair-this apparition-horse
and man! The horse was tall, gaunt,
white. There were the deep hollows of
age over his bloodshot eyes. His out
stretched head showed that he shared
his masters eagerness of pursuit. Death
would have chosen such steed for
gallop on one of deaths errands.
Death would have commissioned such
a rider to bear a sentence of death. A
tall, gaunt man, with the loose, long
frame of pioneer, but the brown vigor
of q pioneer was gone from him. His
face was lean and bloodless. II was
clear where some of his blood had found
issue. A strip of old white blanket,
soiled with dust and blood, was turbaned
askew about his head, and under it there
showed the ugly edges Of recent
wound.
When he pulled up beside us his
stringy right hand was ready upon the
butt of a revolver. He dropped the muz-
zle as he looked at us.
For what horror was this man the en-
bodied Nemesis!
"Where are they?''
He whispered this question in voice
thick with stern purpose and shudder-
ing with some recollection that inspired
the purpose.
"They! WhoY'
The two murderers."
"They staid behind at Bridger."
"No. The Morn. ons told me they
were here. Don't hide them Their
time is come"
Still in the same curdling whisper.
He crushed his voice, as if he feared the
very hirlocks of the prairie would re-
verberate his words and earth would
utter warning cry to those he hunted
o fly, fly, for the avsnger of blood was
at hand. -
No need to be told whom he sought.
Fhe two ganiblsrs-theAwo murderers
the brutss we had suspected; but
where were they! Where to be sought?
We hailed the. mail train. It1&as but
hundred yards before us over the ridge.
Jake Shambariain and his party returned
to learn what delayed US.
The haggard horsemep stared at them
al! in silence.
1--WE seen you before, stranger" said
chamberlain.
Eyes" said the man, in his shuddering
whisper
"It's Armstrong from Oregon, from
the Umpqua, amt it? You don't look
as if you were after cattle this time.
Where's your brother"
Murdered"
81 allowed something had happened,
because he warn't long. l never seed
two men stick so close as you and he
did. They didn't kill him without get
tin lick at you, see. Who was it?
Indians?"
"Worse."
81 reckon know why you're after us
then"
81 can't waste time, chamberlain"
said Armstrong, in hurried whisper.
"Tll tell you in two words what's hap
pened to me, and pr'aps you can help
me to find the men l mean to find"
"rll help you, if 1 know how, Arm
strong. hain't seen no two in my life,
old country or new country, saints or
gentiles, as I'd do more for n you and
your brother. I've olluz said, eff the
world was chock full of Armstrong;, |
Paradise wouldn't pay, and Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob mout just as well blow !
out their candle and go under bushel
basket, unless half bushel would kiver |
'em."
The stranger seemed insensible to this
compliment. He went on in the same
whisper, full of agony, pain and weari-
ness. While he talked his painting horse
drew up his lip and whinnied, showing
his long, yellow teeth. The spirit of his
ridar had anterad him He puas iTnna-