The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-12-08
CHAPTER XII.-CoNT1NuED.

Quick, Jacopo-follow me-" and driving
my spurs home, the good horse plunged for
wards, topping the bank almost on the in
stant that the ambassadors, who rushed
out with a shout, reached it. The man to
the left, who was riding white horse, pulled
up in an unaccountable manner, and max
Ing point at the one on my sword side, I
ran him through the throat, my blade twist
ing him clean round in the saddle as I
dashed on. The attacking party, coming
at a great pace, were carried by their
horses down the slope into the stream, and
before they could turn l had gained fair
start, and TO my JOY heard Jacopo swearing
as he galloped behind me.
"Maldetto! could not fire, signore-you
were right in front of me-but here goes
He turned back in his saddle, and would
have let off his piece had l not shouted
out:
Hold! hold! till tell you," and for
tunately he heard my words, or the chances
were there would have been a miss with
no opportunity of reloading.
We gained full hundred yards before
The others recovered themselves, coming
after US with yells of anger, and distinctly
heard Cecis voice:
1.-TWO hundred crowns for them, dead or
alive!"
Now commenced race for life. We had
the start and meant to keep it: but their
horses were the fresher, and it became a
mere question of who could last longest.
We made the pace as hot as we could, in
the hope that if we came to close quarters
again some of our pursuers would have
tailed behind. For little time things went
well, and l was beginning to think we
should be able to show our friends clean
pair of heels, when l suddenly felt my horse
putting, stretching his neck forward and
holding on to the bit, in manner which
left no doubt to my mind that he was done
Jacopo, too, called out:
1--WE had better fight 1t out, excellency;
my horse is blown"
Before giving final answer, I slung round
In the saddle to see how the enemy were get.
ting on. The only two who were at our
heels was the man mounted on the white
horse, who had pulled aside in so strange
I manner when charging me, and another,
whom / could not make out. The rest were
we'll behind, but riding hard. We could
probably account for these two, and turn
ing back shouted to Jacopo:
"All right; fight it out"
! As / said this my horse stumbled and
rolled clean over, killing himself on the
spot, but fortunately throwing me clear of
him and without doing any damage to me.
the two foremost of our pursuers were upon
Is.
Jacopo had been carried some yards on by
the speed of his mount, but as the men came
up he turned sharp round in his saddle and
fred. The report was followed by yell
of pain, and the leading horseman fell: the
other, who bestrode the white horse, again
steering off from me. Here he met with
Jacopo, who was coming back at a gallop,
and, it seemed to me, flung himself from
his horse, doing this in SO clumsy man
ner rs to be Immediately ridden over by
my knave.
"Mount-mount, excellency-mount be-
hind mel" and Jacopo steadied his horse.
But there was no time, and three OF the re-
manning horsemen dashed up. Two of the
horses SHE'D past the body of my animal,
but the third came boldly up, and the rider
give my brave fellow any aid, for my time
was fully occupied in dealing with my own
adversaries. Their horses were too fresh, or
not well in hand, by great good luck, and
- they could not manage to came at me
together. Seeing this, made a dash across
the road into the wood-it was but few
feet-and both my adversaries followed,
with the result that the horse of one of
them put his foot in q rut, and, stumbling
forwards, unseated his rider, and the other,
in aiming a cut at me, got his sword en-
Tangled for a second in an overhang-
ing hough. This second was. however,
enough Tor me to give him six inches of
cold steel. and be pulled round and rode off,
dropping his sword. and swinging from side
to side IN his saddle like drunken man.
The man who had fallen from the horse
Was nowhere to be seen. Indeed, did not
look for him, but rushed back to the as
9stance of Jacopo, and this time, having
opportunity for observing, Il only for Z