San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-01-09
BBSi6g6d bD 6hey6ln6S
= Ry A II, GIBSON.

sKln, WIEN LIS UOunT precious cargo,
bounding like a frightened bird over the
water.
Two arrows sped after her, but she
was already too far from the vexed war
riors, struggling on the verge of the
quicksand, } prove an easy target.
A curtain of dense clouds again swept
across the moons face, rendering oE
jects along the river dim and uncertain,
and greatly increasing The .vexation OF
the Indians.
Not for one moment did Lois Gilbert
slacken the speed at which she was urg-
ing her skif Onward.
The quicEsand on the bar opposite he
home and where Nose Gilbert had once
had an unpleasant experience might
bes-iend her in delaying the Cheyennes
for short time, but she knew they
would be able to extricate themselves
and secure the canoe. All too soon they
would be hurrying after her.
In the meantime, though, she put forth
every effort to make as great Roadway
AS possible before the pursuit actually
began.
She was not wrong in her belief that
the savages would be able to free them
selves from the quicksand.
She had not proceeded far around a
small bend in the river when the I'M
mistakable dip, dip of a canoes paddles
fell ON her ears.
"They're really after me now in earn
est" she told herself. We'll, I'm a
good way ahead, and I'll try to keep that
way"
Taking a deep breath, she bent to her
task with renewed energy.
The little boat seemed fairly to fly
along over the water, but fast as it
went she could still hear the dip, dip of
her enemy's paddles as they came stead
lily onward after her.
The moon was dimly visible now be-
hind mass of filmy clouds and objects
were becoming family discernible.
Lois glanced back to ascertain if pos
sible how near her pursuers were.
She could just make out the dull out
line of the long canoe and its dusky &C.
cupants as they swept around the bend.
She could not, however, estimate the
distance between herself and them,
though fear made it seem less than it
actually was.
The sharp eyes of the Cheyennes saw
the skiff with its solitary occupant far
ahead of them, and uttering chorus of
savage whoops, which echoed wildly
from bank TO bank, they showed the
canoe forward at an impetuous rate.
Lois realized that it must be race
for life with her there on the Arkansas,
where she had spent several careless
afternoons in the very craft now pursu-
ing her.
Even in that time of peril she could
not help thinking of one particular af-
ternoon in June when Lee Hutchins,
mounted on his pony, had ridden along
the bank as she idly foated, not far
away, in the old canoe. They had con-
versed little, but it had left an indelible
impression on her mind.
But the yells of the pursuing Indians
drove her happy memory away. Shut
ting her lips firmly. she stroye to force
the skiff along with all the vigor which
she was able to command.
Work as she did to keep ahead, she
began to see that her foes were surely,
if slowly. gaining on her.
Presently the arrows began darling
after her, confirming her greatest fears
that with every dip of their paddles the
enemy was drawing nearer.
"rll not give mp till l have to-" Lois
observed to herself. "1f the moon
would only stay hid!' '' .l'....,
But it showed no disposition to do so,
and two or three times she was obliged
to dodge the arrows of her exulting
foes.
She dared not relinquish the oars a
second to risk shot from the revolver
at her side. 1t might do no good, and
would doubtless give the Indians dan
gerous advance.
1t was very toilsome, as well as terri
flying. Greet drops of sweat stood on
her forehead, and the muscles of her
arms ached from the unnatural strain
placed upon them.
She was beginning to feel strangely
weak and nerveless. And she was two
miles from Jordan's; she could never
reach it now. Despair seemed suddenly
to have swallowed all her courage.
But she did not relax her hold upon
the oars, and the race continued little
longer.
"Whiz" an arrow came kissing
through the air. 1t pierced fold o.
her dress, but left her untouched.
The canoe was almost upon the skiff
and as the Cheyennes beheld the success
of their IL 6 arrow they set up a tri
umphant it.
A Y,ome.,. mora ond ,o;S bo1;a,,o5 I, =.