his fellows; she saw the officer's startled horse break loose and
prance away. In the same instant the mounted Apaches, sending forth their
war-whoop and unslinging their bows, charged at full speed toward the
combatants.

Thurstane had but five seconds in which to save his life. Had he been a
man of slight or even moderate physical and moral force, there would not
have been the slightest chance for him. But he was six feet high, broad in
the shoulders, limbed like a gladiator, solidified by hardships and
marches, accustomed to danger, never losing his head in it, and blessed
with lots of pugnacity. He was pinioned; but with one gigantic effort he
loosened the Indian's lean sinewy arms, and in the next breath he laid him
out with a blow worthy of Heenan.

Thurstane was free; now for his horse. The animal was frightened and
capering wildly; but he caught him and flung himself into the saddle
without minding stirrups; then he was riding for life. Before he had got
fairly under headway the foremost Apaches were within fifty paces of him,
yelling like demons and letting fly their arrows. But every weapon is
uncertain on horseback, and especially every missile weapon, the bow as
well as the rifle. Thus, although a score of shafts hissed by the
fugitive, he still kept his seat; and as his powerful beast soon began to
draw ahead of the Indian ponies, escape seemed probable.

He had, however, to run the gauntlet of another and even a greater peril.
In a crevice of the ruined wall which crested the hill crouched a pitiless
assassin and an almost unerring shot, waiting the right moment to send a
bullet through his head. Texas Smith did not like the job; but he had said
"You bet," and had thus pledged his honor to do the murder; and moreover,
he sadly wanted the five hundred dollars. If he could have managed it, he
would have preferred to get the officer and some "Injun" in a line, so as
to bring them down together. But that was hopeless; the fugitive was
increasing his lead; now was the time to fire--now or never.

When Clara beheld Manga Colorada seize Thurstane, she had turned
instinctively and leaped into the enclosure, with a feeling that, if she
did not see the tragedy, it would not be. In the next breath she was wild
to know what was passing, and to be as near to the officer and his perils
as possible. A little further along the wall was a fissure which was lower
and broader than the one she had just quitted. She had not