get my fingers upon it,
notwithstanding the rapid rate at which I was being jerked over the
ground. I tried to get out my knife, and succeeded. As good luck would
have it, just then, the path on which my captors were travelling,
narrowed between two groves of timber--forming a kind of avenue or lane.
Through this the troop had to pass in Indian file--my particular
horseman still keeping in the rear. While going through, the gallop of
the horses was interrupted--or at least their pace was greatly
slackened--the rearmost of the band being thrown almost into a walk.
This gave me the opportunity I desired; and, making an effort, I doubled
my body over on itself--until I was able to reach the lazo beyond my
foot. A single cut of my keen blade severed the thong; and I was
detached on the instant. With anxious gaze I looked after the
retreating horsemen: fearing they would see what I had done, gallop
back, and spear me where I lay; but to my great joy I saw them ride on,
till the last of them was out of sight. Yes, _cavallero_!" continued
the narrator, "I saw the last horse, and the very tail to which I had
been attached, pass out of sight. No doubt the horse knew what had
happened, but not his rider. Not one of the whole troop appeared to
have any suspicion that there was aught amiss--until I had crawled into
the bushes, and got some distance from the path. Then I could hear
them, as they galloped back, and rode whooping through the thicket in
search of me. _Carrambo, senor_! I then felt more anxious than ever.
Up to that time I had no thought of anything else than being rubbed out.
I had been certain of it, from the first moment of the attack upon our
party. Now, however, I had conceived a hope that I might escape, and
return to the rescue of Gabriella. To be captured the second time would
have been ten times more disagreeable than at first--when there was no
opportunity either to hope for safety, or to reflect on the means of
securing it. Now that a chance of life had offered itself, I was doubly
fearful of losing it. I could make but little headway--so much was I
disabled--but half hobbling, half crawling, I worked on through the
thicket in the direction of the town. I could hear the savages beating
the bushes behind; and every moment I expected to have them upon me.
They would in time have traced, and overtaken me; but perhaps they cared
not much for the capture. They had secured the booty they most prized