The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-12-14
with his hand and stared toward the

with his hand and stared toward the
retreating figure.
1T is a Lancer trooper" he said
presently II can see the plumes in
his head.dress and | can also see the
pennon tluttering from his lance.'
'He is armed, them" H..
"He is carrying his lance" replied
the Captain.
"Good!" I cried. "Now, if we can
reach that soldier before the lion
catches us, we shall be all right It
will not take him long to touch the
heart OF the brute with the keen steel
head OF his spear. Fortunately we
have not been working our horses
hard, but they must 20 now if ever
they did for their very lives. Are you
ready?"
eyes" said he, drawing his hat on
firmly and planting himself square
upon the saddle. "Come now!"
We turned our horses about, and
with shouts and slaps gave them
rein. The intelligent creatures, as
though conscious OF their danger,
started off like frightened deer along
the sandy valley. I let the newly
lighted cigar drop from my mouth,
and setting my knees firm against the
sleek sides OF the mare, grasped the
relns with a grip of steel. Allow sullen
roar reached my ears, and turning for
an instant to glance over my shoulder
l caught q glimpse of the lion flying
alter us in pursuit, it's 1.-the form
bounding like a flash OF light from
ridge to ridge, and it's whole shape a.
m n f1eeting vision of flowing name,
flashing eyes and distended jaws.
"Hey-on! Hey-up!" It was like a.
dead heat with the order of the hunt
reversed. The horses hoofs thunder
ed over the sand, raising smoke-like
column OF dust as they swept with the
velocity OF the wind toward the figure
OF the soldier, every instant growing
more defined. My cap flew off; I tried
to catch it, but it whirled away astern
like bit OF chaff. Our speed was pro-
dlglous. ! felt my horse tremble be-
meath me, and the steam rose from it's
reeking hide in warm mist. l Law
forward to whisper in her ear, al
thong h., breathless as I was, l rather
Kissed than spoke the syllables of en-
couragement which came from my lips.
My companion and | kept our stations
abreast Of each other with wonderful
precision. We occasionally exchanged
a lew hurried words, but it was no
time for talking; the whirl and tumult,
and above all the sense OF danger,
were too great for conference and al
most for articulation.
Five minutes passed. although so
much OF sensation was packed into
them that the time might well have
been an hour. Once turned again to
see whether we still maintained our
station ahead Of the lion, and per-
celved that the creature was SLOWLY
but vislbIy gaining on us. Yet the
speed OF our horses was prodigious.
| could feel the heart OF
my mare beating with a. violence
that sent a thrill through her whole
frame to each throb of it, but she
kept brave]y on with no sign OF flag
ging. Whether the soldier had per-
celved us or not as yet it was impos-
sible to say; but even if he had done
SO, there could be nothing in the sight
OF two officers galloping through
Long Valley to excite his curiosity.
Such Il spectacle would be as common
to him as the sight OF his own blue
tunic. I could now clearly make him
out, even to heglitter OF his accoutre-
He was heading traversely
away from us, his horse going at a
moderate trot. Several times we
united our voices in q shout, but he
was apparently still too distant for
our confused hallos to reach him, for
he kept steadily on.
Presently, however, I saw him turn
his head in our direction. raised my
arm and f1ourished it wildly, hoarsely
calling to Angus to do the same. He
snatched off his hat, which still adj
hered to his head, and waved it
violently. The soldier continued
looking our way, growing palmer to
the view even as he did so; then ap-
parently noticing our gestures and in
terpretlng them into 81 gnals, he drew
rein and brought his horse to stand
still Now that he had stopped we
swept down upon him like a whirl-
wind. AS we approached we alternate
ly shouted and pointed behind
us, but he apparently made
OF these sgns--as in
deed, what suspicion should he have
OF the real motive of our headlonp
flight toward him? Suddenly, however,
he rose in his saddle, and I saw him
hastily release his lance from the sling
which confined it to his arm, and low
or the long, glittering weapon down to
the trail. I then knew that he had
caught sight OF the lion, and remember
amid all the hurry and tumult Of my
thoughts at that moment admiring
the prompt presence Of mind of the
fellow, staggered as he must have been
by the unexpected apparition of our
wild and fierce pursuer.
Then what followed took place, as it
seemed to me, all in q breath. Our
selves painting like q hare in it's final
squirt, and our horses reeking and
spent, we darted past the figure OF the
soldier, crouching with his spear point
ed low, and came to standst;ll,
wheeling round to see what would
nowhappen. The troopers horse rear
ed up on it's hind legs till it seemed as