The record-union., 1893-04-29

ISSSHtly ue T0dCueu MS nOLSler anu
drew out the revolver l had replaced. He
saw in moment what had been done,
and fi1nging the weapon aside with vio-
lent gesture he rode on for dear life.
And now the edge OF the Long Scrub
came in sight. l drove the spurs into my
horse and sent him along for all he was
worth. George heard my cries of en-
couragement, looked round once as a
second bullet from my revolver whistled
over his head or buried itself in his body,
could not tell which, and with yell of
defiance urged his horse into yet more
furious gallop.
Nearer and nearer we drew to the
SCRUB. and the pace was tremendous. The
strain was telling fearfully on both horses
and 1t was evident that neither of them
mad much more running left in him.
Georges was laboring fearfully, despite
the savage squirting OF his rider; while
my own faithful roam was sobbing with
distress as he struggled gamely, but in
vain, to overtake his fellow. And now the
goal was very near, and still George thun-
dered on. Would he beat me? l ground
my teeth together and called on my horse
Tor one last effort. Calamity the poor
brute responded, and l felt him spring
beneath me as he put all his noble heart
INTO the struggle. Hurrah L was gain
ing. But, oh, how slowly! 1t was
question of time, of endurance, and-ha
Look at George! Was 1 blind with eX-
cltement, or was he reeling in his saddle?
Nearer and nearer-hve minutes more
and he will be there. They are gone
tour-he is there! And then for one
moment | seemed to see him sway from
side to Side-the next, l was hurled
through the air like bolt from my bow,
as my horse. putting his foot in a treach-
erous hole, came headlong 10 the ground.
For some moments lay there stunned;
and then, struggling again into con-
sciousness, tried to rise. But it was no
use; my left leg was broken, and l sank
back with a groan. Fifty yards away L
saw George supporting himself on one
elbow and looking at me.
Are you hit, George?' 1 called out.
YES" he answered.; somewhere here
in the shoulder. L lost so much blood,
couldn't keep my seat. What's wrong
with you?"
Leg" L replied, laconically. Sur
| render, George"
He laughed. "Whatl To man with
a game leg? Not 1. Besides what for?
ou would nurse my wound we'll again,
and then hang me. No, no; L know a
trick worth two of that" and he began to
crawl slowly and painfully toward Il point
somewhere to my right, not to my sur
prise, in the direction of the scrub. l
| watched him for moment or two as he
dragged himself laboriously along.
NV hat are you at?" L shouted at last,
puzzled by his behavior. He never an
swered; but with his eyes fixed appar-
emily on some object which l could not
see, held straight on his course, his
breath coming and going in deep, shud-
dering sighs from the dreadful effort the
eXertion cost him.
Whatever can his game be?" l Won
dered, as, screwing myself round with
difficulty, l followed the direction of his
! intent gaze. / saw it all now. What a
fool L had been not to think of it before!
Plainly outlined against a tussocll OF
grass by which it had fallen was my re-
volver, which had Deen jerked out OF my
hand as l fell. That was what George
was making for.
l wasted no time in words, you may be
sure. L wasn't going to lie there to be
shot like a dog, and, cursing my own
| folly, started to crawl toward the re-
volver on my own account. | had some
what the best of it even now, for though
! George was little nearer the tussock
than l was. yet he was fearfully weak,
| and more than once he fell over on his
side, laboring painfully for breath. But,
oh! 1t was torture for me. Lines of red
! hot fire ran up and down my leg, and my
very heart ached with the intensity of the
| pain. The agony was horri ole, and over
and over again l stopped and sank groan-
ing on my face. But the dreadful issue
at stake nerved me, and | held on. |
| glanced at George, and Shuddered, for he
was awful to behold. His right arm
| hung useless by his side, but with his left
! hand he clntched the grass or dug his
nails into the soil as he dragged himself
along, or sank upon his stomach and
wriggled forward like q great snake.
Great drops of sweat stood out on his
forehead and rolled down his cheeks; his
teeth were set, and his face, deadly white
from loss of blood, wore a look of fierce
a tiAr, aO hn ra1 IaI opta Il.
desperate effort.
All at once, in the midst of that CHASTITY
crawl l heard the sound of hOots far
away. L never looked around, but l knew
what 1t meant, and a thrill of hope shot
through me.
"Give it up, George" 1 cried breath
lessly. The Squire and his men are
coming. You've no show, even if you do
shoot me-" Not word said George, only
he kept straight on. Nearer and nearer
came the thunder of the galloping horses,
and nearer and nearer we drew to that
deadly revolver, as we labored along
painting, gasping, groaning. gnashing.
Nearer and nearer-I could hear the
Squire's shout borne family through the
clear air. Nearer still, and my heart be-
gan to throb eXultantly us | realized l
was the closer to the goal, when all OF a
sudden l felt as if all the pain in the
world had concentrated itself in my leg.
cOulu DOI 20 OLl, anu lOE one moment at
least had to lie still; and that moment
gave George the advantage, for, as L
looked up again, he had reached the re-
volver. But the terrible strain he had
undergone overcame him, and in the very
act he sank Swooning to the ground. An
other instant and it would have been in
my grasp, when, with a dying effort
George writhed forward. Our hands met
with a shock; but before 1 could seize his
wrist he snatched the revolver and with
gigantic heave rolled over out of reach
and lay still. Groaning with pain, l
slowed myself round. The Squire and
his men were not far away now, and COM
ing on like demons. If 1 could only
reach George before he revived! But it
was useless; exhausted nature gave way,
and l sat still and despairing.
On came the Squire, shouting like mad.
In moment we should be surrounded;
in moment the danger would be passed.
Hurrah! l tried to shout, but my parched
throat refused its office and the word died
away in a cracked shrek. On thundered
the Squire-a couple of hundred yards
more and-just then George stirred
heaved long, shuddering sigh, and sat
bolt upright, the blood gushing from his
mouth and nose, and the revolver tightly
clasped in his hand.
| saw it was all up and steadied myself
determined to meet my fate like man.
Behind me heard the Squire. In front
of me sat George, holding the revolver
and looking deathly as he swayed un-
steadily to and fro.
Suddenly he spoke, reused by the
shouts that were now almost in our ears.
ppm done for" he gasped. ''If it were
only you, I'd have a break for free
dom; but there are too many. Look here,
Sergeant. | was born gentleman-Pve
come down good deal-but I'll die like
one. You shan't put the rope round my
neck. You shan't." He raised the revol-