“Let ’em go, Cinch!”
Our horses needed no urging. I clung to the rear of that saddle with
both hands and onward we went. I could see Willie humped up on his
horse, and then I passed him. Suddenly I seemed to hear a peculiar sound
past my ear. It was sort of a _pwee-e-e-e_, and I seemed to hear the
report of a gun.
I turned my head. Behind me thundered William Burton Suggs on his horse,
while seemingly from all directions came riders. There were numerous
puffs of smoke, and a number of bees seemed to pass my head.
It seemed as if one of the bees stung my horse, for it nearly unseated
me for a moment. I clung tightly to the saddle and let the horse pick
its own way. Once I looked back and the riders seemed to be gaining a
little.
I do not know how far we rode before I lifted my head and saw the town
of Piperock just ahead of me. Willie’s horse had increased its speed
until we were almost side by side. Behind us came the riders.
The town seemed aroused. Several men ran into the street, and one of
them seemed to be waving something. This, later on, appeared to be a
rope.
My horse swerved as if to pass them, but evidently thought better of it,
and the next thing I knew my horse was dashing right for the open door
of a business place. This appeared ridiculous, did it not? Perhaps the
horse thought it was a stable. At any rate we went inside, and Willie’s
horse followed us in.
I do not know just what happened, but I seemed to get a momentary
glimpse of the place, which showed it to have been the same place where
I had questioned Jay-Bird, and then my horse struck the stove, I think,
and I struck the top of the rear door as I fairly flew outside.
No, I was not injured—that is, I was not hurt. I felt no pain. I got to
my feet, which did not feel at all like my feet, and started away on
legs that I am sure did not belong to me, when something seemed to coil
around my body and I was flung down. I dimly heard a voice say—
“This ain’t neither of them, Magpie.”