Part 23 (1/2)

Five or six shots were fired at a few yards' distance, quick as lightning, yet, strange to say, all missed. Then the taller of the two opposed to Ned, hurled his revolver full in his face, and rushed at him.

The pistol struck Ned on the chest, and almost felled him, but he retained his position, and met the highwayman with a well-directed blow of his fist right between the eyes. Both went down, under the impetus of the rush, and the second robber immediately sprang upon Ned, and seized him by the throat. But he little knew the strength of the man with whom he had to deal. Our hero caught him in the iron grasp of his right hand, while, with his left, he hurled aside the almost inanimate form of his first a.s.sailant; then, throwing the other on his back, he placed his knee on his chest, and drew his bowie-knife.

Even in the terrible pa.s.sion of mortal combat, Ned shuddered at the thought of slaying a helpless opponent. He threw the knife aside, and struck the man violently with his fist on the forehead, and then sprang up to rescue Tom who, although he had succeeded at the outset in felling one of the robbers with the b.u.t.t of his pistol, was still engaged in doubtful strife with a man of great size and power. When Ned came up, the two were down on their knees, each grasping the other's wrist in order to prevent their bowie-knives from being used. Their struggles were terrible; for each knew that the first who freed his right hand would instantly take the other's life. Ned settled the matter, however, by again using his fist, which he applied so promptly to the back of the robber's neck, that he dropped as if he had been shot.

”Thank you--G.o.d bless you, Ned,” gasped Tom, as soon as he recovered breath; ”you have saved my life, for certainly I could not have held out a minute longer. The villain has all but broken my right arm.”

”Never mind,” cried Ned, stooping down, and turning the stunned robber over on his face, ”give me a hand, boy; we must not let the fellows recover and find themselves free to begin the work over again. Take that fellow's neckcloth and tie his hands behind his back.”

Tom obeyed at once, and in a few minutes the four highwaymen were bound hand and foot, and laid at the side of the road.

”Now,” said Ned, ”we must push on to the nearest settlement hot-haste, and bring a party out to escort--Halloo! Tom, are you wounded?”

”Not badly--a mere cut on the head.”

”Why, your face is all covered with blood!”

”It's only in consequence of my wiping it with a b.l.o.o.d.y handkerchief, then; but you can examine, and satisfy yourself.”

”The wound is but slight, I see,” rejoined Ned, after a brief manipulation of Tom's skull; ”now, then, let us away.”

”We'll have to catch our horses first, and that won't be an easy matter.”

Tom was right. It cost them half-an-hour to secure them and recover their rifles and other arms, which had been scattered over the field of battle. On returning to the spot where the robbers lay, they found them all partially recovered, and struggling violently to free themselves.

Three of them failed even to slacken their bonds, but the fourth, the powerful man who had nearly overcome Tom Collins, had well-nigh freed his hands when his captors came up.

”Lie quiet,” said Ned, in a low tone, ”if you don't want the b.u.t.t of my rifle on your skull.”

The man lay down instantly.

”Tom, go and cut a stake six feet long, and I'll watch these fellows till you come back.”

The stake was soon brought and lashed to the robber's back in such a manner that he was rendered utterly powerless. The others were secured in a similar manner, and then the two travellers rode forward at a gallop.

For nearly an hour they continued to advance without speaking or drawing rein. At the end of that time, while sweeping round the jutting base of a precipitous rock, they almost ran into a band of hors.e.m.e.n who were trotting briskly towards them. Both parties halted, and threw forward their rifles, or drew their revolvers for instant use, gazing at each other the while in silent surprise at the suddenness of their meeting.

”Give in, ye villains,” at last shouted a stern voice, ”or we'll blow ye out o' the saddle. You've no chance; down your arms, I say.”

”Not until I know what right _you_ have to command us,” replied Ned, somewhat nettled at the overbearing tone of his opponent. ”We are peaceable travellers, desiring to hurt no one; but if we were not, surely so large a party need not be afraid. We don't intend to run away, still less do we intend to dispute your pa.s.sage.”

The strangers lowered their fire-arms, as if half-ashamed at being surprised into a state of alarm by two men.

”Who said we were `afraid,' young man?” continued the first speaker, riding up with his comrades, and eyeing the travellers narrowly. ”Where have you come from, and how comes it that your clothes are torn, and your faces covered with blood?”

The party of hors.e.m.e.n edged forward, as he spoke, in such a manner as to surround the two friends, but Ned, although he observed the movement, was unconcerned, as, from the looks of the party, he felt certain they were good men and true.

”You are a close interrogator for a stranger,” he replied. ”Perhaps you will inform me where _you_ have come from, and what is your errand in these lonesome places at this hour of the night?”

”I'll tell ye wot it is, stranger,” answered another of the party--a big, insolent sort of fellow--”we're out after a band o' scoundrels that have infested them parts for a long time, an' it strikes me you know more about them than we do.”

”Perhaps you are right,” answered Ned.