Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-04-09
Surely you are not going, sirT' the

Surely you are not going, sir7" th
l,ndlord said. You are not fit"
Fit or not, | am going Ezra sal,
reSolutely. IF | have to be strapped t,
my horse III GO
A great concourse of people had as
sembled by this time, attracted by the re
port of the robbery. The whole square
in front of the hotel was crowded witt
diggers and storekeepers and nnumera
bio kaffirs, all pressing up to the porticc
in the hope of hearding some fresh details
There was buzz of excitement among
the crowd when Ezra appeared on the
steps of the hotel, looking as white as g
sheet, with handkerchief bound round
his head and his collar all crusted with
blood. AS he mounted his horse one Of
his emiSSaries rushed to him.
IF you please, SIR he said, "they have
taken the Capetown road A dozen people
saw them. Their horses were not up TO
| much for | know the man they got them
| from. You are sure to catch them"
A smile played over Ezra's pale face,
which boded little good for the fugitives.
Those police" he cried, ARE they never
going to come -
Here they are" said the landlord, and
sure enough, with a jingling of arms and
clatter Of hoofs, half a dozen of the
Cape Mounted police trotted through the
crowd and drew up in front of the steps.
They were smart, active young fellows,
armed with carbine and saber, and their
horses were tough brutes, uncomey 10
| look at, but with wonderful staying pow
er. Ezra noted the fact with satisfac-
ton as he rode up to the grizzled sergeant
in command.
There's not a moment to be lost sar-
geant," he said. They have an hour and
haf's start, but their cattle are not
up to much. Come ON It's the Capetown
road. A hundred pounds if we catch
them ~
For the first few miles the party gal
loped in silence. The moon was still shin
ing brilliantly, and they could see the
white line Of the road stretching out N
front of them and winding away over the
undulating veldt. To right and left spread
a broad expanse of wiry grass stretching
to the horizon, with low bushes and scrub
scattered over 1t in patches.
Out once more upon the Capetown road
it was a clear race between the pursuers
and the pursued. The former knew that
the fugitives, were it daytime, would pos
sibly be within sight of them, and the
thought gave them additional ardor. The
sergeant having a fresh horse rode in
front, his head down and his body for
ward, getting every possible inch Of pace
out of the animal. At his heels came
Ezra, on his gallant grey, the blood-stain-
ed handkerchief fluttering from his head.
He was sitting very straight in his saddle
with a set, stern smile upon his lips. In
his right hand he held a cooked revolver.
A hundred yards or so behind them the
two remaining troopers came toilng along
upon their weary nags, working hard with
whip and spur to stimulate them to fur
ther eXertons. Away in the east a long
rosy streak law low upon the horizon,
which showed that dawn was approach
ing, and a grey light stole over the land
scape. Suddenly the sergeant pulled his
horse up. There's some one coming To-
wards u.s." he cried.
Ezra and the troopers halted their pant
ing steeds. Through the uncertain light
they saw a solitary horseman riding down
the road. At first they had thought that
il might possibly be one Of the fugitives
who had turned, but as he came nearer
they perceived that it was a stranger.
His clothes were SO dusty and his horse
so foam-fecked and weary that it was |
evident that he also had left many a long |
mile of road behind him.
Have you seen three men on horse
,o, ,1, ;aJ bo
II spoke to them," the traveller an
'wered. They are about half a mile
lhead."
Come on Come on ~ Ezra shouted
II am bringing news from Jagersfon-
elm" the man said.
Come on" Ezra interrupted, furious
y, and the horses stretched their stiff
limbs into feeble, numbering gallop. Ezra
nd the sergeant shot to the front, and
he others followed as best they might.
suddenly in the stiffness they heard far
way a dull rattling sound like the cat
er of distant castanets. IT'S their
orses' hoofs :" cried Ezra, and the troop
RS behind raised a cheer to show that
hey, too, understood the significance Of
be sound.
1t was a wild, lonely spot, where the
lain was bare even of the scanty foliage
'hich usually covered it. Here and there
reat granite rocks protruded from the
rown soil as though Natures covering
ad in bygone days been rent until her
aunt bones protruded through The
'ound. AS Ezra and the sergeant swept
)und a sharp turn in the road they saw !
,me little way ahead of them the three .
lgitives, enveloped in a cloud of dust.
lmost at the same moment they heard a ,
lout and crash behind them, and, look
lg round, saw a confused heap upon the |
-ound. The horse of the leading trooper I
ad fallen from pure fatigue, and had
,lled over upon its rider. The other r
ooper had dismounted and was endea- s
,ring to extricate his companion. +
Let US see if he is hurt" the sergeant o
led.
ION on :" shouted Ezra, whose passion
as increased by the sight of the thieves
Not foot back"
He may have broken his neck" grum-
ed the sergeant, unslinging his carbinc r
Have your pistol ready, sir. We shall n
: up with them in few minutes, AMI
ey may show fight" d
They were up with them rather sooner
an the policeman expected. Farintosh, +,
lding that speed was of no avail, and :,