The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-08-17

santos. riding by with q hundred
troopers. And what was 1t had been
sail?
"Fhe Gringo is always drunk. He
is harmless. Do not kill him."
Santos had kicked him contemptu.
ous'y and ridden ON his way. But
Kane remembered now. He remem.
bered the whispered cOlloquy. No.
body knew that he understood much
Spanish. for he seldom spoke to any.
one. But Kane had gathered that the
at sunup.
Slowly the realization Of this crepa
into his mind. He heard again the
laughter of the Mexican leader, his
boast of what he would do to the
GringOs, his talk of the American
women then slowly. like q
flower, Dorothy's face unfolded before
his eyes against the fading West.
kane staggered to his feet and
looked about him. Tethered to near.
by hut was a fine stallion, the prop.
erty Of Santos, which he had left there
till his return on the morrow, not wish.
Ing to risk 1t in the impending fight, IL
fight there was to be. Nobody was
guarding it.
Kane crept toward 1t. He saw the
saddle and bride ut the door of
nearby hut. In IL moment he had
placed the saddle ON the animals back
and fastened the girth.
lie fitted the bride, hearing shouts
as the Mexicans saw him and OWNED
his purpose. Men ran toward him.
Kane cut the halter and leaped on
the stations back. In a moment he
was away, gallOping along the road
that led toward the border. Behind
him he still heard the cries Of the
stupefied Mexicans.
III.
Once out Of sight Of the village he
moved slowly, for before him, miles
away. outlined against the hort.
ION. he saw the cavalry of Santos
marching. The day died and the stars
came out. Kane rode along the de.
serted road.
1t was midnight when he saw far
off the winding Rio. Looking down.
he saw the camp Of the raiders ut the
foot Of the hill. A high bank on either
side of him, rising into the mountains,
cut off all possibility of detOur. He
must ride through the camp.
He gave his horse a rest; then,
mounting, he continued, very cautious
ly, until, topping the last hill, he saw
the pickets under him. Then he put
his horse to the gallop.
Faster and faster he drove the stall.
lion down the hill. He heard the
shouts Of the guard, he caught vision
of men, risen from sleep. staring at
him; and then he was running the
gantlet between two lines of Mexi.
cans. He heard their excited shouta
Bullets whizzed past him. He felt al
it were the sting of bean through the
forearm, through the shoulder. His
right hand, pierced. dropped nerve
lessly from the reins. He felt the
blood stream down him.
Then he had passed them, and as his
snortng horse gathered itself together,
beneath him he heard the troop, with
wild yells, take up the pursuit. The
river glistened before him. The cur,
rent ran fast and strong. Only mo-
lncnt he hesitated; and, as he did SOL
he felt another sting under the arm.
Then he drove the stallion into the
river.
The bullets whipped the water about
him. Kane felt his senses leaving him.,
and an awful faintness. He felt the.
icy water wrap him round like q;
shroud. Behind him his pursuers had
halted. No ordinary horse could swim,
from the south to the north bank Of
the Rio in food time.
The current was sweeping him,
away. But before him ne saw, white
against the night. the tents Of his own
people. With last effort Kane
spurred the tagging beast beneath the
water. The stallion screamed and sud
dealy began to tread upon the river
bottom.
Spla.hing and p!un.ing. e gained
the American side and RUSHED up the
bank. Benin! him the Mrx;ca;.s we're
still firing, but now the bullets went
wild. Kane was in 40 danger. If only
he could pull himself together and
reach his goal.
He refined in the stallion with his
last reserve strength. n. va. ed it
sl"~'y through the eEir..nr" to the
camp. Men We're ulreH'y alert,
aroused by the shots. and I .ituy in.
Kane heard til. cninnels v..re. He
saw q woman standing .l his side. He
stopped til" horse in fr.,nt Of til. CON-
handing officer.
"Santos is leading party to attack
the camp. sir" L.. faltered. Il came
to-warI YOU"
And Kane fell from his horse into
the arms Of the cOlOnel's orderly.
They carried him into the coloners
house. Kane opened his eyes after q
long interval, to see faces looking into
his. He saw the doctor shake his
head. A sense Of supreme JOY thrilled
him. 1t was good to Diet was good
that this should be ended-Hnd be end
ed thus.