Evening star., 1896-07-25

noted the four Indians following. There
were plenty of redskins riding about every
day in the week. but even the way these
subjects sat their ponies was proof to
him that they We're TenegadeS and meant
mischief He was armed with a revolver
alone. To the right were the fcot-hilS-to
the left the military road This road was
five miles away If they could reach it they
might run upon the daily mail coach or
some freighters, or, by extending the gall
Ion, reach Devils Run and the working
party.
You see those Indians, Miss PheIps?"
quietly asked the officer. he pointed
to the redskins advancing at a walk
They doubtless belong to a war party
which has broken loose from the reserva-
ton The military road is off this way
We must ride for it, Get firm seat IN
your saddle and give your horse the rein
and stop for nothing l shall follow close
behind, but mind me. If you are
alcne when you reach the road turn to the
left and keep on until you reach the Rum
do you mean it?' she said as the color
died out of her face and her lip trem-
bled.
Every word of it. my dear friend. Be
a brave girl and do as tell you. Our
may keep our distance. Ready now. We
shall have a good hall mile the start
But yOC-you-n'
Never mind me-" he sternly commanded
Il shall follow after. but you must pay
when you strike the road Give your
horse his head and trust him to find his
way Now you are orr
Xxi, vi. Yi"' came the wells of the In
dians the two riders started Off and
then the race began. For the first mile
1t was an even race Then the Indians
began 10 gain, inch by inch, and as they
did so the officer began to drop back The
girl was riding with a firm seat and her
horse was picking his own route. The
Indians continued their yelling, but as
Il
of their rifles were added. As bullet
sang over her head Miss Phelps looked
back with white. scared face, but the
officer smiled at her and motioned for her
to pay no attention. There came sec
ond. a third and a fourth. Then the lieu
tenant felt a sudden pain in his right
shoulder sensation as If a hot iron had
touched the flesh, and he changed the
reiIs TO his left hand anG muttered to
himself:
That's a bullet through the shoulder
but they can't do as we'll again.
1t wild shooting on tie part of the
pursuers, but they were counting on luck
Although they had gained somewhat in
the race the long-legged cavalry horses
had the advantage in climbing the ridges
and Were still in good wind. They were
certain to reach the military road first
barring accident. Bullet after bullet went
flying after the fUgitives, and when the
road was only mile away the officer sud-
denly lifted in his saddle again. A bullet
had struck him in the left hip. The In
dians knew that he was hit again and yell
ed in triumph. The girl looked back, and
the officer closed up the distance and shout
ed to her through his clinched teeth:
I'VE are close upon the road now, Be
sure and turn to the leit,''
Down the slope of a ridge as steep as
house roof thundered the riders into the
highway. and after them came the red
skins. a turn to the left and then riding
side by side. the officer and the girl used
the spurs for the first time and began
to draw quickly away The race was
lost TO the puIsuers and in their rage
they fired their Winchesters as fast as they
Gould pull the trigger. Ping, Ping! Pingi
sang the bullets. One of them grazed the
lady's hat-another passed through her
riding skirt-a third struck the officer in
the calf of the right leg.