Evening star., 1896-08-22

just seen. If face. and the expression of
a face. went for anything, the danger was
flashed across my mind I tried to think
What was to be done. Unless he has actual
iy tried 1t. no one can tell how hard task
1t Is to think under such conditions of
emergency. The danger evidently lay in
front. where. some two or three hundred
yards OIL, the ox-wagOns were travelling
along unconsciously, but the party against
whom 1t must be aimed were still behind.
l hesitated for moment, and then feeling
the necessity Of doing something, I turned
half round In my saddle and. waving my
arm frantically over my head, 1 shouted
the words: Halt! Danger! Back!" hadn't
trled TO STOP and 1t was probably fortu-
rate that 1 hadn't, for the echo of my last
word was still ringing in my ear, and my
eyes were still fixed on the party behind
me 10 see what effect my warning had pro-
ouced. when something whistled closely
past me. and at the same moment the sharp
report OF a gun startled all the echoes Of
the spot.
Had I thought for an hour could have
nit on no better plan for giving the alarm,
ana even as involunterily bent my head,
as II to escape the shot, 1t was a sensation
OF no little relief that heard It, At the
same moment. and while I was in the act
OF looking back again to see what effect 1t
mad had my hand went instinctiyely to the
belt under my loose coat where 1 had re-
ngiously carried my revolver in its case
since my arrival in the country I had
made up my mind now. 1t was useless 20
go on In the hope Of warning the wagon
drivers. for If the shot hadn't done so.
nothing would. My place was clearly with
my party, and In the meantime nv desire
which somehow was a very keen one. was
70 get shot at my apparition in return for
his own. had almost instinctively swery-
ed toward the wall of rock when 1 heard
the report. and now I exerted myself TO
check my speed. Fortunately I was not vet
going so fast as to make this difficult and
IN very few seconds l found myself able
to throw myself hastily from the bicycle
under shelter OF the cliff 1t was only q
matter or moments, and as 1 turned the
machine and remounted 1 heard shout
ard the sound of half dozen shots from
lhe ulrection Where l could see that the
wagons had stopped and were now huddled
together.
Sicily over again. I guess" I muttered
10 myself. savagely, as I bent over my
l could. put all my strength into the effort
10 get back to the spot where I had seen
my unprovoked assailant. It was a differ
ent matter from the descent. indeed, but
effort was to keep myself concealed, partly
TO avoid second shot and partly to give
myself a better chance Of taking my saw
age-looking friend unawares so as To re
turn his compliment The plan had the
advantage that 1t made 1t impossible for
me TO catch sight Of our party Straight
as the road had looked to me riding in the
middle. or perhaps a little nearer the trees
there was evidently a bend, and now AZ I
crept up close to the cliff it shut me Off
from view OF the upper stretch.
After all. 1t was only for a minute or SO,
and then noting the spot where the rook
rose bare and rugged and gripping nv re-
Volver-a large and serviceabIe one-In NV
hand. l swerved into the middle of the
road road with quick and noiseless rush. My
Idea had been a good one AS came in
sight OF the top of the rock once more NV
friend was In the very act Of turning
away: and the momentary glance which
got ike Hash of light at his face. SEEM
ed to me to show a savage, well satisfied
smile on his dark features. In a moment
mad fired, and at the same instant he had
seen me. There was a short. fierce ex-
OF his arm he plunged into the tangled
mass of bushes behind him. I couldn't be
certain that l had hit him, but the rest Of
our party evidently thought so. for they
OF greeting my return.
Ihey had halted near where the path to
the Tort Joined our road. and in another
minute l had Joined them. About half Of
the men had ridden back to where the
wagon that was to have followed US with
the pharaphernalia of our lunch was still
standing. and it was Col. Maitland who
greeted me with the words: "That was a
good idea of yours; glad you got the
IT hope I did, colonel" I replied, vim
of them?" added.
"A good many. 1 should say, otherwise
they would never have attempted an at
tack glanced round. and even my un-
military eyes could see that our present
position was quite untenable. The colonel
noticed my look.
Bates tells me that we can easily hold
how send in word to the cantonment. We
have guns enough with us, I think. and
the. the principal difficulty. will be to get
through the scoundrels."
There n0nldnsf ho
rectness Of the colonels remark, for to
travel such road beset with armed enc
miles looked the nearest thing to impos-
sible. The ladies' behaved well. There
were no screaming. no tears, and no hys-
terics. and within two or three minutes
we were on our way up the hill track to
the fort. the men in front and behind and
the ladies' in the middle. I noticed that
more than one of the horses looked uneas-
lily at my bicycle, so I pushed on up the
incline, glancing. 1 confess. suspiciously
from from side to sids as went expecting
let or the report of a gun. Nothing hap
pened. however. and in two or three min
utes l had once more surmounted the
not 100 yards in front. was not the first,
for even as 1 topped the ridge caught
sight Of three or four Misunderstanding
fellows with guns in their hands running
trance of the fort. Barely in time. after
vantage Of the change Of grade and shot
silently down the track after them.
AZ I went I congratulated myself once
more on my mount. The hoofs of my
steed. at any rate. were noiseless. and
I could easily see that the men in front
were entirely ignorant Of my coming. /
gave the machine free scope. and we rush
ed down the slope at something approach
ing racing speed. The men were running
fast, but 1t Is needless to say that they
seemed almost at a standstill when COM
pared to the pace at which I overhaulsd
them. I was within twenty yards Of them
before made up my mind what should
do. I had the revolver in my hand ready
to fire, and yet I was In doubt So tar
these men had done me no harm. and.
whatever they might be about to do, I
hardly felt prepared to hre at them In
cold blood. I was close behind them nov,
and something must be done. They had
reached the little hollow from which th1
path rose for about thirty OF forty yards
to the entrance Of the Tort, and ( was
close behind them, coming i,oiselessIy In
their track. I lifted the revolver and fire6
between the two mon most directly In
front Of me. They were close toTether,
and the bullet must have whistled In The
ear Of each as Il It bad been aimed At
them. With . startled exclamation that
was almost scream. the two men leaped
asunder. and at the same moment NV bi,
cycle swept like q flash between theu1 and