Part 6 (2/2)
”But I want you to go because--well, because you trust me,” he urged, a new trace of tenderness in his lowered voice. ”Because you know I would give my life to defend you.”
He was not sure, but he thought her face was suddenly uplifted, her eyes seeking to see him in the darkness.
”I do,” she answered gravely, ”you must believe I do; but I have never been in such peril before, in such a situation of horror, and I am all unnerved. There doesn't seem to be anything left me but--to trust you.”
”That is good; all I can ask. I know you are all right, but I want you to keep your nerve. We are going to take a big chance; we 've got to do it--a single misplay, a slip of the foot, an incautious breath may cost our lives.”
”Are you going to try to get away? To elude the Indians?”
”Yes, and there is but one possibility of success--to creep the length of the gully there, and so reach the river. Here is Gonzales' belt.
Don't be afraid of it; it is not dead men who are going to hurt us.
Swing the strap over your shoulder this way, and slip the revolver into the holster. That's right; we'll carry as little as we can, and leave our hands free.” He hesitated, staring about in the darkness, swiftly deciding what to take. ”Do you happen to know if either of the pa.s.sengers carried any grub?”
”Grub?”
”Plains' term for food,” impatiently, ”rations; something for lunch _en route_.”
”Oh, yes, Mr. Moylan did; said he never took chances on having to go hungry. It was in a flat leather pouch.”
”Haversack. I have it. That will be enough to carry, with the canteen. Now there is only one thing more before we leave. We must impress those fellows with the notion that we are wide-awake, and on guard yet. See any movement out there?”
”I--I am not sure,” she answered doubtfully. ”There is a black smudge beyond that dead pony; lean forward here and you can see what I mean--on the ground. I--I imagined it moved just then.” She pointed into the darkness. ”It is the merest shadow, but seemed to wiggle along, and then stop; it's still now.”
Hamlin focussed his keen eyes on the spot indicated, shading them with one hand.
”Slide back further on the seat,” he whispered softly, ”and let me in next the window.”
There was a moment's silence, the only sound the wind. The girl gripped the back of the seat nervously with both hands, holding her breath; the Sergeant, the outline of his face silhouetted against the sky, stared motionless into the night without. Suddenly, not making a sound, he lifted the rifle to his shoulder.
CHAPTER VIII
A WAY TO THE RIVER
She waited in agony as he sighted carefully, striving to gauge the distance. It seemed an interminable time before his finger pressed the trigger. Then came the report, a flash of flame, and the powder smoke blown back in her face. Half-blinded by the discharge, she yet saw that black smudge leap upright; again the Henry blazed, and the dim figure went down. There was a cry--a mad yell of rage--in which scattered voices joined; spits of fire cleaving the darkness, the barking of guns of different calibre. A bit of flying lead tore through the leather back of the coach with an odd rip; another struck the casing of the door, sending the wooden splinters flying like arrows. Hawk-eyed, Hamlin fired twice more, aiming at the sparks, grimly certain that a responding howl from the left evidenced a hit.
Then, as quickly, all was still, intensely black once more. The Sergeant drew back from the window, leaning his gun against the casing.
”That will hold them for a while,” he said cheerfully. ”Two less out there, I reckon, and the others won't get careless again right away.
Now is our time; are you ready?”
There was no response, the stillness so profound he could hear the faint ticking of the girl's watch. He reached out, almost alarmed, and touched her dress.
”What is the trouble?” he questioned anxiously. ”Didn't you hear me speak?”
He waited breathless, but there was no movement, no sound, and his hand, trembling, in spite of his iron nerve, groped its way upward.
She was lying back against the opposite window, her head bent sideways.
”My G.o.d,” he thought, ”did those devils get her?”
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