The Southern herald., 1900-06-01

bullet close to his head. Despite the
shelter of the trees, the keen-eyed |
AEarris had made out the party, and |
" ere sending their compliments in
native fashion" as Archer observed, |.
ithagrin.
swell, I'm glad they've fired first" |
said Lumley, 'for l always like the |
o1her side to be in the wrong when | /
In ave row. However, since they be-
gan, here goes"
His rife cracked as he spoke, and
the nearest Marri fell dead on the
pot, while his startled companions
4 rev back in dismay.
Now" said the captain, let's be
o fl before they cay pull themselyc,
L Ogether again"
And now the pursuit began in ear
nest. The savagcs, furious at their
comndc's death, and the prospect of
l osing their prey after all, came on
I IKE hounds in sight of the game. max
/ ng the rocks echo with their wolfsh
cries,
Matters began to look serious for
I he three fugitiyes, who, already tired
Nvith their march across the hills,
Eound it anything but easy work to
@cramble up crumbling slopes, clam
F1er over huge powders, and squeeze
through gaps where there was barely
Eoom for one man to pass.
Even the advantage given them by
Z heir being unburdcned with the
heaW weapons that cumburcd their
enemies was more than balanced by
1he superior toughness and agility of
The mOuntaineers, who were accus-
uomcd to follow their game over even
roughcr ground than this.
AN inch Of a miss Is as good as
mile" said Harry Vane, as a bullet
grazcd his cheek and hattened against
the cliff beyond him.
Unjust really do something to stop
these fellows" cried Jack Lumley
facing about, 'ior they're overhaul
ingus hand over hand. Here goes for
another pop"
The crack of his rife was answered
by sharp howl Of pain from one of
The Marris, who stumbled forward as
if his limbs could no longer sustain
him.
But the pursuers replied with a
vollqy, and a crimson spot showed it.
selfupon Lumley's white sleeve, while
the gun, falling from his powerless
hand, went rattling and chinking
down a hollow.
"Are you hurt, old fellow" asked
Vane, anxiously, as he sprang to his
comrades side.
Nothing worth talking about"
answered the captain, careessly. 81
cant afford to lose my best rifle,
| though, and if those fellows don't find
il | shall come back and hunt for it
Tomorrow"
q hope you may" said the corre-
spondent, laughing in spite Of him
self at the coolness with which this
man Ofiron, while all their lives were
hanging by thread, concerned him
self wholly with the loss Of his gun.
"Well, there goes our entire stock
of Weapons" growled the lieutenant,
as he knotted a handkerchief around
his friends wounded arm. "What a
fool was not to bring my gun! ]
hate to be peppered without a chance
of returning itp'
Hadn't you better send the car
tridges after the rifle, and SO make
yourself lighter to rum suggested
Archer, touching the heavy tin case
that hung at Lumley's belt.
"Cartridges?" echoed the engineer
ats something better than that, my
boy. If the worst comes to the worst
| mean to drop this on the path, and
while they're breaking it open We
shall have time to escape"
"You might as well do it now
then," said Archer, "for these fellows
are coming too close to be pleasant
and we've got nothing leftt fight EN-
with"
The captain looked around, The
lean, brown faces of the six remain
ing assailants were indeed approach
ing rapidly, and their bullets came
thick and fast. 1t was stll! some dls'
tance to the top of the ridge, and hl'
own strength was beginning to fai-
from the effects of his wOund, whil'
one glance at Harry Vane's quiverinG
face showed him that the poor lieu
tenant was almost worn out by tht
y
prolonged strain of this race for life
The last consideration decided
Lumley. He unslung the case, placeC
it conspicuously in the very center o
the narrow path, and then resumt'
his fight.
z Meanwhile the purspers were las
gaining upon them, and making TIN