The Winslow mail., 1913-07-05
CHAPTER vI.-continued.

Then 1t came to him in a sudden
flash Of fntelligence-he was alone;
alone except for the girl. They were
out there yet, skulking in the night,
planning revenge, those savage foe
men-Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Ogallas.
They had been beaten back, defeated,
smitten with death, but they were In
dams still. They would come back for
the bodies Of their slain, and then
what? They could not know who were
living, who dead, In the coach; yet
must have discovered long since that
1t had only contained three defenders.
They would guess that ammunition
would be limited. His knowledge of
the fighting tactics of the Plains
tribes gave clear vision of what would
probably occur. They would wait.
scattered out in a wide circle from
bluff to bluff, lying snake-like in the
grass. Some of the bolder might creep
in to drag away the bodies of dead
warriors, risking a chance shot, but
there would be no open attack in the
dark. That would be averse to all In
now the mournful wailing had ceased;
Roman Nose had rallied his warriors.
instilled into them his own uncon-
querable savagery, and set them on
watch. With the first gray dawn they
would come again, leaping to the
coach's wheels, yelling, triumphant,
mad with new ferocity-and he was
alone, except for the girl.
And where was she? He felt for
her on the floor, but only touched the
Mexican's feet. He had to lean across
the seat where Moylans body lay,
shrouded in darkness, before his crop
ing fingers came in contact with the
front seat, close to the window;
against the lightness of the outer sky,
her head seemed lying upon the wood
en- frame. She did not move, he could
not even tell that she breathed, and
for an instant mis- dry lips failed him
utterly, his blood seemed to stop. Good
God! Had she been killed also? How,
in Heavens name, did she ever get
there? Then suddenly she lifted her
head slightly, brushing back her hair
with one arm; the faint starlight
cleaned on steel barrel. The Ser
geant expelled his breath swiftly, wet
ting his dry lips.
Are you hurt?" he questioned
anxiously. Lord but you gave me a
scare!"
She seemed to hear his voice, yet
scarcely to understands like one
aroused suddenly from sleep.
What! you ke-then-then-
there are others? II am not here
all alone?"
Not if you count me-" he said, a
trace of recklessness in the answer
Il haven't even scratch so far as
know. Did they touch your"
No; that is, l am not quite sure;
tit was all so horrible l cannot re-
member. Who are you? Are you the
the soldier?"
"Yes-I'm Hamlin. Would you mind
telling me how you ever got over
there?"
She Strengthened up, seemed to no
tice the heavy revolver in her fingers,
and let 1t fall to the floor.
"Oh, 1t is like a dream-an awful
dream. l couldn't help myself. When
the Mexican rolled off on to the floor
l knew he was dead, and-and there
was his revolver held right out to me
in his hand. Before l realized | had
it, and was up here-I-I killed one
he-he fell in the wheel; Il can
never forget that!"
Don't try" broke in Hamlin earn
estly. You're all right" he added,
admiration in his voice. and so it
was you there with the small gun. I
heard il bark, but never knew Con-
gales was hit. When did it happen ?"
"When-when they fired first. It
1t was all smoke out there when / got
to the window; they-they looked like
like wild beasts. and it didn't seem
to me l was myself at ALL"
The man laughed lightly.
You did the right thing, that's ALL