Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-04-23
"Who goes thereT repeated the voice.


been discovered by the dreaded cattle
men, but no thought of surrendering
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 coiled in her hand. Quick as u
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.
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.
A succession of bitter oaths came from
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
pains they had taken to wreak vengeance
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 as 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
slow canter, she listened for sounds of
pursuit.
For moment she could detect no
sound save the murnur of the night
wind through the long grass. Then
there came a low rumbling sound from
behind that resenbled 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 a 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 a 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
20 pull suddenly upon the reins. AS she
did so she felt a quick loosening of the
rope: then it slipped from the horses
head and fell dangling at her side. The
horse was bridleless.
There are few horses, however gen.
tie, that do not feel sudden thrill of
freedom if released from the restrictions
of the bride when ridden at a full gal
lop, and Jet was no exception. Startled
as the bride slipped from his head, the
horse leaped wildly through the long
grass almost throwing his rider from
her seat and then darted away with the
speed Of the wind.
With cry of terror at her now help
less situation. Fanny clutched the mane
of the flying horse and held on with
desperate energy while from behind
came the thunder of hoofs in hot pursuit
Before her now lay many miles of I'M
broken plain with not even bush tC
break the dreary monotony and across
this ner horse sped swiftly on. his proud
head tossing from side to side as if IL
mockery Of those who came behind
Fanny Riggsby was good rider and
had spent many day IN the saddle, gal
loping over the prairie in search of heI
fathers cattle that would often stray
away, OUT sue cOulu not Help leellnS d
sense OF helplessness and terror steal
over her as she now found herself upon
the back of the spirited horse without
saddle OF bridle Without any means OF
guiding the animal. she could only trust
to chance in keeping upon the proper
course She knew that there was set
tlement many miles to the north, and il
was with the hope of reaching this thai
she mad started i'll northerly direction
Steady Jet, she cried. leaning for
ward and speaking in a coaxing voice. but
the spirited animal only plunged forward
with renewed speed, leaping wildly
through the tangled grass and patches
OF goldenrod that grew in his course
But close behind came the thunder OF
pursuing hoofs, and with thrill of feal
she realized the necessity Of urging hel
horse to greater speed.
Yet she hesitated, for already she
maintained her seat with great difficulty
and any attempt to urge the horse lnt(
a swltter gallop might result in preclp
IN h.A