The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-09-12

\
each right knee, the leg being de-
pressed strongly for the comforting
touch of the carbine running along un-
der the stirrup-leather. ..
At the far end of the trail where it
debouched into the river appeared a
night, and this shadow grew in length
as the column climbed the bank and
stretched out along the hollow. They
rode fearlessly at a slow trot, evidently
expecting no collision with anything
more serious than a herd of beeves,
were some talk and laughter, two or
three of them were humming songs
and many cigarettes were going. AS
they wound by the foot of the hill, up
on which the Seminoles were hidden,
the haze overhead disappeared and the
stars shone out brilliantly. Harding
and his friends could see that the col
umn 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 tin
sci upon his sombrero showed even in
the half light. AS he passed he lit
match, and the fame flaring, showed
dark handsome face, with black eyes
and a dropping black mustache. This
leader they knew to be Vavara. Wait
ing 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 white
| ly 1t brought up the rear twenty
| PAGES behind the last couple of snug
| glers, and evidently acted as sort Of
| single rear guard. It did not betray
any of the lounging ease of the Mex
| leans ahead Of it. On the contrary,
it sat with something Of military pre-
cision, and the face was slightly lifted
in closely scanning the hills from side
to side. 1t may have been that a
horse of one of the Englishmen stirred
or snorted. 1t may have been some
thing of inexplicable intuition which
came to this figure. Be that as it may,
it had passed the Seminole position by
not more than five yards when it's left
shrill whistle sounded over the waste.
Before the quaver had died Harding
gave the word and whites and blacks
swept pell-mell down the slope. Each
man had drawn his revolver as his
horse sprang, and the crashing of them
/ ho1 10
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
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 Semi
noles were reckless riders, and they
burst through the cactus as if it were
tissue paper, but they were more or
less delayed by the thickness of it and
| by the steepness of the slope down
which they came. When they reached
the trail and swung into it at trot, a
moment later to become full-speed
dash, the smugglers were fifty yards
ahead of them under thorough head
way to safety The large figure was
still behind them, having waited for
all of the fugitives to pass ere he fol-
lowed. Harding, swearing madly
headed his men. Behind him were all
of the Honorables, giving one after
another view-halloo, as if they were
chasing a fox. By his side rode
Maude, his dark face set and his eyes
now all black, set intently ahead
"The fellow behind is English OF
American" he said sharply. "That
horse of his could run over anything
in front if he would let it 60. He is
riding with double wrap of the reins
around each wrist and the beasts head
is pulled to it's breast"
Even in the mad excitement of the
chase Harding glanced at him sur
| prisedly, but had no breath left fo1
comment. Instead he threw up his pis.
tol and fired. This was a signal fol
every Englishman behind him to dc
the same thing and the bullets sang by
his ears and the ears of Maude in I'm.
pleasant proximity
The fugitives reached the bank Of
the Rio Grande thirty yards in advance
Of their pursuers, leaped down it, sent
the drops Of water twenty feet high
and plunged madly across. Harding
pulled his horse to its 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 it. Five seconds
later, Vavara, caught in the rearward
press, followed his men to Mexican
7 soil and defiantly waved hts sombrero
The cavalry captain and his friends
Il bad been 80 husily .Ystching the dis
/ appearance Of their legitimate prey
that they had not noticed the action o.
the last man Of all, the large figure
4 upon the gray horse. This fellow, In
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