Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-07-19
DOWN BLYTHE
- RE (5lANDE
sY-H. .CANFIELD.


with one leg thrown over the pommel.
The glitter Of gold tinsel upon his SOM
brero showed even in the half light AS
he passed he lit match, and the flame
haring, showed a dark, handsome face.
with black eyes and a dropping black
mustache. This leader they knew to be
Navara. Waiting still for the word, the
Seminoles stared downward, and Hard
ing delayed to give it until the last man
had passed. This figure was Of unusual
size upon a horse which showed Whitley.
1t brought mp the rear twenty PAGES be-
hind the last couple of smugglers, and
evidently acted as a sort of single rear
guard. 1t did not betray any of the
Longing ease Of the Mexicans ahead of
It. On the contrary, it sat with some
thing of military precision, and the face
was slightly lifted in closely scanning the
mis- from side to side. 1t may have been
that horse of one of the Englishmen
stirred or snorted. 1t may have been
something of ineXplicable intuition which
came to this figure. Be that as it may,
1t had passed the Seminole position by
not more than five yards when its left
hand went to its mouth and long. shril
whistle sounded over the waste Before
the quaver had died Harding gave the
word and whites and blacks swept pell.
nell 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 its sides.
a second later they were laundering to-
ward the river, as the regulars were thun-
dering down upon them. They had be-
sides 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 Seminoles 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.
moment later to become Il full-speed
dash. the smugglers were fifty yards
ahead of them under thorough Roadway
to safety. The large figure was still be-
hind them, having waited for all of the
fugitives to pass ere he followed. Hard
ing. swearing madly, headed his men.
Behind him were all of the Honorables,
giving one after another the -halloo,
as if they were chasing fox. BY his
side rode Maude his dark face set and
his eyes, now all black, set intently
ahead.
1.-THE fellow behind is English or Amer
iaoTo - he CaiI CharYlt, HO. .
his could run over anything in front if
he would let it go. He is riding with
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 surprised
ly, but had no breath left for comment.
Instead he threw up his pistol and fred.
This was a signal for every Englishman
behind him to do the same thing and the
bullets sang by his ears and the ears Of
Maude in unpleasant proximity.
The fugitiyes reached the banks 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. pulling
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 soil
and defiantly waved his sombrero. The
cavalry captain and his friends had been
so busily watching the disappearance 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 it, turned round and sat with
the yellow tide running under the ami
mails belly. He did not draw a weapon
but merely remained quiescent. the reins
held loosely in his left hand, his right
hand resting upon the pommel. 1t was
plain that he had wheeled and intended
to offer resistance in delay of pursuit If
the American attempted 10 cross.
by Joye"' said Maude, with SIMS
ter smile, pointing finger at him. Look
there, He's an impudent rascal for
you"
he s brave one, anyhow, Harding
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 car
hine with him. In the dark Harding did
not notice the action. The Engishman.
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 a dim blur TO the
other spectators, bur clean enough in out
line TO the savage 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,
invisible in the gloom.
Ten seconds passed and the figure up
on the gray horse did not move Then
it swayed slightly backward and for
ward, clung 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
splash. A quick oath came from Hard
ing as Maude climbed back into the sad
die