Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-09-05

some talk and laughter, two or three OF
them were humming songs and many
cigarets were going. AS they wound
by the foot of the hill, upon which the
Seminoles were hidden, the haze over
head disappeared and the stars shone
out brilliantly. Harding and his FRIENDS
could see the column was composed OF
some forty riders. At their head was
short man, riding easily, with one
leg thrown over the pommel The
glitter Of gold tinsel upon his SOM
brero showed even2 in the half light
AS he passed he lit match, and the
flame fiaring, showed dark, hand
some face, with black eyes and
dropping black mustache. This leader
they knew to be Vavara. Waiting
Silly for the word. the Seminoles
stared downward, and Harding delayed
to give it until the last man had passed.
This figure WAS of unusual size upon
horse which showed whitley. 1t
brought up the rear twenty PAGES be-
hind the last couple of smugglers, and
evidently acted as sort OF single rear
guard. 1t did not betray any OF the
lounging ease of the Mexicans ahead OF
it. On the contrary, it sat with some
thing of military precision, and the
face wass lightly lifted in closely
scanning the hills from side to side.
1t may have been that horse of one OF
the Englishmen stirred or snorted. 1t
may have been something Of inexpli-
cable intuition which came to this
figure. Be that as it may, it had pass
ed the Seminole position by not more
than five yards when its left hand want
to its mouth and long, shrll whistle
sounded over the waste. Before the
quaver had died Harding gave the word
and whites and blacks swept pellmell
down the slope. Each man had drawn
his revolver as his horse sprang, and
the crashing of them was audible a
half-mile away
At the whistle each Mexican had
wheeled his horse sharply around and
dashed the spurs deeply into it's sides
A second later they were laundering
towards the river, as the regulars were
laundering down upon them. They had
besides the advantage of an open trail
and their horses, while inferior in
speed and stamina to the steeds Of the
soldiers. were more active and were
guided more easily. The Seminoes
through the cactus as If 1t were tissue
paper, but they were more or less de-
| layed by the thickness of 1t and by The
steepness Of the slope down which they
| came. When they reached the trail
| and swung into it at a trot, moment
later to become full-speed dash. the
smugglers were fifty yards ahead OF
| them under thorough Roadway to safe
| ty. The large figure was still behind
them. having waited for all OF the flu
| gitives to pass ere he followed Hard
| ing, swearing madly, headed his men.
| Behind him were all OF the Honorables,
| giving one after another the view-hal-
| loo, as If they were chasing fox. BY
| his side rode Maude. his dark face set
and his eyes, now all black, set intent
iy ahead.
THE fellow behind is English or
American" he said sharply. THAT
| horse of his could run over anything
in front IL he would let it go. He is
riding with a double wrap OF the reins
around each wrist and the beasts head
is pulled to its breast
Even in the mad excitement OF the
| chase Harding glanced at him surpris-
| ment. Instead he threw up his pistol
and fred. This was signal for every
| Englishman behind him to do the same
| thing and the bullets sang by his ears
| and the ears OF Naude in unpleasant
| proximity.
The fugitives reached the bank OF
the Rio Grande thirty yards in advance
| of their pursuers, leaped down 1t. sent
| the drops OF water twenty feet high and
| plunged madly across. Harding, pull
| Ing his horse to It's launches. checked
his men upon the American bank.
Got away again." he said bitterly
As he spoke the head Of the fleeing
column struck the opposite bank and
| clambered swiftly up II Five seconds
| later, Vavara. caught in the rearward
press. followed his men to Mexican
soil and defantly waved his sombrero.
| The cavalry captain and his friends
/ had been so busily watching the disap-
pearapce OF their legitimate prey that
they had not noticed the action OF the
last man OF all, the large figure upon
| the gray horse. This fellow, instead OF
riding up the Mexican bank, checked
/ his horse when he reached IL, turned
3 TOuUu anu sdl Win tue y'lIDh tue
running under the animals belly. He
! did not draw weapon. but merely re-
! manned cuiescent. the reins held loose
| ly in his left hand his right hand rest
I ing upon the pommeI II was plain
1 that he had wheeled and intended to
/ offer resistance In delay OF pursuit, IL
/ the Americans attempted to cross.
by Jove," said Maude, with a sin
lister smile. pointing a finger at him
Look there, He's an impudsnt ras-
cal for you"
Hes a brave one, anyhow" Hard
! ing answered amiringly. I'D Ike to
meet him on this side. There's the
making OF pretty fight in him"
Haude slipped to the ground on the
| further side OF the horse. taking his
carbine with him. In the dark Harding
| did not notice the action. The Eng
| lishman. his black eyes blazing. fell
upon one knee. cuddled the stock OF
the gun TO his cheek and looked
through the sights. The figure near
the opposite shore was not r1uch aore
| than a dim blur to the other specta-
tors, but clean enough In outline to the
savage marksman. A second went by