The two sat expectant in their saddles--she, apparently, with more
confidence than he: for she confided in him. Still but imperfectly
comprehending it, she knew there must be some great danger. When such a
man showed sign of fear, it could not be otherwise. She had a secret
happiness in thinking: that a portion of this fear was for her own
safety.
"I think we may venture now;" said her companion, after a short period
spent in listening; "they appear to have passed the opening by which we
must make our retreat. Look well to your riding, I entreat you! Keep a
firm seat in the saddle, and a sure hold of the rein. Gallop by my
side, where the ground will admit of it; but in no case let more than
the length of my horse's tail be between us. I must perforce go ahead
to guide the way. Ha! they are coming direct for the glade. They're
already close to its edge. Our time is up!"
The profound stillness that but a short while before pervaded the
prairie, no longer reigned over it. In its stead had arisen a fracas
that resembled the outpouring of some overcrowded asylum; for in the
shrill neighing of the steeds might have been fancied the screams of
maniacs--only ten times more vociferous. They were mingled with a
thunder-like hammering of hoofs--a swishing and crashing of branches--
savage snorts, accompanied by the sharp snapping of teeth--the dull
"thud" of heels coming in contact with ribs and rounded hips--squealing
that betokened spite or pain--all forming a combination of sounds that
jarred harshly upon the ear, and caused the earth to quake, as if
oscillating upon its orbit!
It told of a terrible conflict carried on by the wild stallions; who,
still unseen, were fighting indiscriminately among themselves, as they
held their way among the mottes.
Not much longer unseen. As Maurice gave the signal to start, the
speckled crowd showed itself in an opening between two copses. In a
moment more it filled the gangway-like gap, and commenced disgorging
into the glade, with the impetus of an avalanche!
It was composed of living forms--the most beautiful known in nature: for
in this man must give way to the horse. Not the unsexed horse of
civilisation, with hunched shoulders, bandied limbs, and bowed
frontlet--scarce one in a thousand of true equine shape--and this, still
further, mutilated by the shears of the coper and gentleman jockey--but
the wild steed of the savannas, foaled upon the green grass, his form
left free to develop as the flowers that shed their fragrance around
him.
Eye never beheld a more splendid sight than a _cavallada_ of wild
stallions, prancing upon a prairie; especially at that season when,
stirred by strong passions, they seek to destroy one another. The
spectacle is more than splendid--it is fearful--too fearful to be
enjoyed by man, much less by timid woman. Still more when the spectator
views it from an exposed position, liable to become the object of their
attack.
In such situation were the riders of the blood bay and spotted mustang.
The former knew it by past experience--the latter could not fail to
perceive it by the evidence before her.
"This way!" cried Maurice, lancing his horse's flanks with the spur, and
bending so as to oblique to the rear of the cavallada.
"By heaven--they've discovered us! On--on! Miss Poindexter! Remember
you are riding for your life!"
The stimulus of speech was not needed. The behaviour of the stallions
was of itself sufficient to show, that speed alone could save the
spotted mustang and its rider.
On coming out into the open ground, and getting sight of the ridden
horses, they had suddenly desisted from their internecine strife; and,
as if acting under the orders of some skilled leader, come to a halt.
In line, too, like cavalry checked up in the middle of a charge!
For a time their mutual hostility seemed to be laid aside--as if they
felt called upon to attack a common enemy, or resist some common danger!
The pause may have proceeded from surprise; but, whether or no, it was
favourable to the fugitives. During the twenty seconds it continued,
the latter had made good use of their time, and accomplished the circuit
required to put them on the path of safety.
Only on the path, however. Their escape was still problematical: for
the steeds, perceiving their intention, wheeled suddenly into the line
of pursuit, and went galloping after, with snorts and screams that
betrayed a spiteful determination to overtake them.
From that moment it became a straight unchanging chase across country--a
trial of speed between the horses without riders, and the horses that
were ridden.
At intervals did Maurice carry his chin to his shoulder; and though
still preserving the distance gained at the start, his look was not the
less one of apprehension.
Alone he would have laughed to scorn his pursuers. He knew that the
blood-bay--himself a prairie steed--could surpass any competitor of his
race. But the mare was delaying him. She was galloping slower than he
had ever seen her--as if unwilling, or not coveting escape--like a horse
with his head turned away from home!
"What can it mean?" muttered the mustanger, as he checked his pace, to
accommodate it to that of his companion. "If there should be any baulk
at the crossing, we're lost! A score of seconds will make the
difference."
"We keep our distance, don't we?" inquired his fellow-fugitive, noticing
his troubled look.
"So far, yes. Unfortunately there's an obstruction ahead. It remains
to be seen how we shall get over it. I know you are a clever rider, and
can take a long leap. But your mount? I'm not so sure of the mare.
You know her better than I. Do you think she can carry you over--"
"Over what, sir?"
"You'll see in a second. We should be near the place now."
The conversation thus carried on was between two individuals riding side
by side, and going at a gallop of nearly a mile to the minute!
As the guide had predicted, they soon came within sight of the
obstruction; which proved to be an arroyo--a yawning fissure in the
plain full fifteen feet in width, as many in depth, and trending on each
side to the verge of vision.
To turn aside, either to the right or left, would be to give the
pursuers the advantage of the diagonal; which the fugitives could no
longer afford.
The chasm must be crossed, or the stallions would overtake them.
It could only be crossed by a leap--fifteen feet at the least. Maurice
knew that his own horse could go over it--he had done it before. But
the mare?
"Do you think she can do it?" he eagerly asked, as, in slackened pace,
they approached the edge of the barranca.
"I am sure she can," was the confident reply.
"But are you sure you can sit her over it?"
"Ha! ha! ha!" scornfully laughed the Creole. "What a question for an
Irishman to ask! I'm sure, sir, one of your own countrywomen would be
offended at your speech. Even I, a native of swampy Louisiana, don't
regard it as at all gallant. Sit her over it! Sit her anywhere she can
carry me."
"But, Miss Poindexter," stammered the guide, still doubting the powers
of the spotted mustang, "suppose she cannot? If you have any doubts,
had you not better abandon her? I know that my horse can bear us both
to the other side, and with safety. If the mustang be left behind, in
all likelihood we shall escape further pursuit. The wild steeds--"
"Leave Luna behind! Leave her to be trampled to death, or torn to
pieces--as you say she would! No--no, Mr Gerald. I prize the spotted
mare too much for that. She goes with me: over the chasm, if we can.
If not, we both break our necks at the bottom. Come, my pretty pet!
This is he who chased, captured, and conquered you. Show him you're not
yet so _subdued_, but that you can escape, when close pressed, from the
toils of either friend or enemy. Show him one of those leaps, of which
you've done a dozen within the week. Now for a flight in the air!"
Without even waiting for the stimulus of example, the courageous Creole
rode recklessly at the arroyo; and cleared it by one of those leaps of
which she had "done a dozen within the week."
There were three thoughts in the mind of the mustanger--rather might
they be called emotions--as he sate watching that leap. The first was
simple astonishment; the second, intense admiration. The third was not
so easily defined. It had its origin in the words--"_I prize the
spotted mare too much for that_."
"Why?" reflected he, as he drove his spur-rowels into the flanks of the
blood bay; and the reflection lasted as long as Castro was suspended in
mid-air over the yawning abysm.
Cleverly as the chasm was crossed, it did not ensure the safety of the
fugitives. It would be no obstruction to the steeds. Maurice knew it,
and looked back with undiminished apprehension.
Rather was it increased. The delay, short as it was, had given the
pursuers an advantage. They were nearer than ever! They would not be
likely to make a moment's pause, but clear the crevasse at a single
bound of their sure-footed gallop.
And then--what then?
The mustanger put the question to himself. He grew paler, as the reply
puzzled him.
On alighting from the leap, he had not paused for a second, but gone
galloping on--as before, close followed by his fugitive companion. His
pace, however, was less impetuous. He seemed to ride with irresolution,
or as if some half-formed resolve was restraining him.
When about a score lengths from the edge of the arroyo, he reined up and
wheeled round--as if he had suddenly formed the determination to ride
back!
"Miss Poindexter!" he called out to the young lady, at that moment just
up with him. "You must ride on alone."
"But why, sir?" asked she, as she jerked the muzzle of the mustang close
up to its counter, bringing it almost instantaneously to a stand.
"If we keep together we shall be overtaken. I must do something to stay
those savage brutes. Here there is a chance--nowhere else. For
heaven's sake don't question me! Ten seconds of lost time, and 'twill
be too late. Look ahead yonder. You perceive the sheen of water. 'Tis
a prairie pond. Ride straight towards it. You will find yourself
between two high fences. They come together at the pond. You'll see a
gap, with bars. If I'm not up in time, gallop through, dismount, and
put the bars up behind you."
"And you, sir? You are going to undergo some great danger?"
"Have no fear for me! Alone, I shall run but little risk. 'Tis the
mustang.--For mercy's sake, gallop forward! Keep the water under your
eyes. Let it guide you like a beacon fire. Remember to close the gap
behind you. Away--away!"
For a second or two the young lady appeared irresolute--as if reluctant
to part company with the man who was making such efforts to ensure her
safety--perhaps at the peril of his own.
By good fortune she was not one of those timid maidens who turn frantic
at a crisis, and drag to the bottom the swimmer who would save them.
She had faith in the capability of her counsellor--believed that he knew
what he was about--and, once more spurring the mare into a gallop, she
rode off in a direct line for the prairie pond.
At the same instant, Maurice had given the rein to his horse, and was
riding in the opposite direction--back to the place where they had
leaped the arroyo!
On parting from his companion, he had drawn from his saddle holster the
finest weapon ever wielded upon the prairies--either for attack or
defence, against Indian, buffalo, or bear. It was the six-chambered
revolver of Colonel Colt--not the spurious _improvement_ of Deane,
Adams, and a host of retrograde imitators--but the genuine article from
the "land of wooden nutmegs," with the Hartford brand upon its breech.
"They must get over the narrow place where we crossed," muttered he, as
he faced towards the stallions, still advancing on the other side of the
arroyo.
"If I can but fling one of them in his tracks, it may hinder the others
from attempting the leap; or delay them--long enough for the mustang to
make its escape. The big sorrel is leading. He will make the spring
first. The pistol's good for a hundred paces. He's within range now!"
Simultaneous with the last words came the crack of the six-shooter. The
largest of the stallions--a sorrel in colour--rolled headlong upon the
sward; his carcass falling transversely across the line that led to the
leap.
Half-a-dozen others, close following, were instantly brought to a stand;
and then the whole cavallada!
The mustanger stayed not to note their movements. Taking advantage of
the confusion caused by the fall of their leader, he reserved the fire
of the other five chambers; and, wheeling to the west, spurred on after
the spotted mustang, now far on its way towards the glistening pond.
Whether dismayed by the fall of their chief--or whether it was that his
dead body had hindered them from approaching the only place where the
chasm could have been cleared at a leap--the stallions abandoned the
pursuit; and Maurice had the prairie to himself as he swept on after his
fellow fugitive.
He overtook her beyond the convergence of the fences on the shore of the
pond. She had obeyed him in everything--except as to the closing of the
gap. He found it open--the bars lying scattered over the ground. He
found her still seated in the saddle, relieved from all apprehension for
his safety, and only trembling with a gratitude that longed to find
expression in speech.
The peril was passed.