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

turned round and sat with the yellow
tide running under the animals belly.
He did not draw weapon, but mere
~ remained quiescent, the reins held
loosely in his left hand, his right
hand resting upon the pommel. It was
plain that he had wheeled and In
tended to offer resistance in delay Of
pursuit, If the Americans attempted to
cross.
".By Jove!" said Maude, with sim
lister smile, pointing a finger at him.
Look there! He's an impudent ras-
cal for you"
"He's brave one, anyhow" Hard
ing answered admiringly. "I'd like to
meet him on this side. There's the
making of pretty fight in him."
Maude slipped to the ground on the
further side Of the horse, taking his
carbine with him. In the dark Hard
ing did not notice the action. The
Englishman, 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 much more
than dim blur to the other spectators,
but clean enough in outline to the saw
age marksman. A second went by and
then tongue of fire leaped from the
muzzle Of the carbine, there was a
sharp crack and rift of smoke, invis-
ible in the gloom Ten seconds passed
and the figure upon the gray horse
did not move. Then 1t swayed slightly
backward and forward, chung to the
pommel with the right hand as if to
steady itself in spite of weakness,
plunged heavily forward over the
withers and struck the water with a
splash. A quick oath came from Hard
ing as Maude climbed back into the
saddle.
THAT might make trouble" said the
officer shortly. "The man was in
Mexico when shot,
And it was damnably like assassi-
nation!" The clear, boyish voice of
Allyn was sounding now
Maude replaced his carbine in the
scabbard and half turned in the sad
die.
"So?" he said, lazily. "Well, when
you have served as long as have you
will learn to exterminate such vermin
when you can. There's one cattle
thief less, anyway"
The fallen man half raised himself
from the water, struggled to regain his
feet, and then sunk back and was
borne away by the current, battling
feebly with one hand. Harding's face
had grown stern.
1--WE can't let the beggar drown after
shooting him in that way" he said
quickly. Here" with wave of his
arm. after him, boys!"
At the word two of the black troop
ers-those nearest him-dashed into
the river, spurred across, and when
they were within twenty feet of the
other bank turned their horses heads
down stream and leaped them out into
deep water. The beasts sunk until the
water came to the necks of theif riders,
then rose and struck out bravely.
Dimly seen, the fugitive foated, drift
ing rapidly, but the horses, good each
of them for four-mile swim, de-
creased the distance between with as
tonishing speed. They caught him two
hundred yards further down. The
Seminoles passed upon each side of
him, grasped him by either arm, raised
his head from the river and turned
their steeds toward the American bank
by slight sway of their bodies They
struck a footing a quarter-mile below
the place of rescue, and when they had
reached the edge dismounted, took
their late foeman in their powerful
arms and staggered up the incline, the
horses following them like dripping
spaniels. They were met by the en-,
tire detachment.
~