CHAPTER XIV.
SAFE.
Away they went at a gallop, only four of them now. The horses, once uponthe road again, let themselves out nobly and sped on like the wind.There was a single volley from the foe as the four came into the open,but all the bullets went wild, and before a second could be fired theywere out of range.
Then the pursuers hurried for their own horses, mounted and againgave chase.
But if the ranks of the pursued had been thinned, so had those of thepursuers. Back in the woods lay four bodies cold in death. Of thesurvivors who still pursued there were seven.
The horses ridden by the four friends had benefited by the brief rest andwere in condition for a long run; and all might have gone well had it notbeen for an unlooked-for occurrence.
As they were dashing swiftly along, Chester's horse stumbled and emitteda groan. Instantly the lad checked the animal, jumped to the ground andran to its head. There was a look of pain in the horse's eyes and he heldup one foot. Chester glanced down.
"He can't go on," the lad said; "the leg is broken."
He drew his revolver.
"Here! What are you going to do?" demanded Colonel Anderson.
"Shoot him," replied Chester quietly. "Put him out of his misery."
"Wait a moment," said the colonel, dismounting. "I know something abouthorses. Maybe it's not as bad as all that."
He examined the leg carefully. When he straightened up he looked atChester and nodded.
"It's the best way," he said quietly. "There is nothing that can bedone for him."
Chester stroked the horse's head gently and the animal whinnied in pain.
"I'm awfully sorry, old fellow," said the lad, "but it will bebest for you."
The horse seemed to understand. Chester took aim and fired quickly.
"And now what are we going to do?" he asked.
"Climb up behind me," said Hal. "We've got a pretty fair start. May bethey will not overtake us."
Chester did as Hal suggested, and the party moved on again, but moreslowly now.
It was perhaps half an hour later, when hoofbeats were heard behind.
"Here they come!" cried Hal, and dug his heels into his horse's side.
The animal responded nobly, but five minutes later it became apparentthat they would be unable to distance their pursuers at this speed. Thehoofbeats became plainer.
Hal drew rein.
"Dismount!" he cried.
His command was obeyed instantly.
Taking his horse by the head, Hal led him in among the trees. The othersfollowed his lead.
"When they get by, we'll go forward again," said Hal.
They waited silently.
A few moments later the pursuers flashed by, going at a rapid gallop.When they were out of sight, Hal led his horse to the road, as did theothers, and all mounted.
"We'll follow them," said the lad. "We'll have to keep our ears open,though, for they are likely to turn almost any time."
An hour later, rounding a turn in the road, Colonel Anderson, who was inadvance, checked his horse suddenly. The others also drew up sharply.
"What's the matter?" asked Hal.
For answer Colonel Anderson pointed down the road.
There, probably half a mile away, were their pursuers, stationary.
"What do you suppose they are waiting for?" demanded Chester.
The answer came from an unexpected source.
From beyond the pursuers arose a puff of smoke, followed by a faintreport. It was the sound of a revolver.
"They've bumped into another enemy of some kind," said Chester. "Wonderhow strong this new force is?"
"Can't be very strong or those fellows would be heading this way,"declared Hal. "Maybe they think it's us."
"That's about the size of it," declared Colonel Anderson.
There was another puff of smoke at this moment, and one of theenemy fell.
"Bully for you, whoever you are," shouted Chester. "Say!" he added,"what's the matter with taking them in the rear? They haven'tspotted us yet."
"I was thinking of that," said Colonel Anderson. "Guess it can be doneall right. Will your horse carry double that far, Hal?"
"He'll have to," replied the lad grimly.
"Good. Are you ready?"
"When you give the word."
"Then charge!"
Down the road at a rapid gallop went the three horses, carrying thefour friends.
Hal, Colonel Anderson and Nikol each guided their mounts with their lefthands, flourishing their revolvers in the right. Chester held fast to Halwith his left and also flourished a revolver with his free hand.
Nearer and nearer they came upon their unsuspecting enemies, who stillstood where they had been when first discovered. Occasionally one firedhis revolver at the spot from which shots came at frequent intervals now.
"Wonder why those fellows beyond don't charge, now that they must see uscoming," muttered Hal to himself.
He watched the puffs of smoke as they came at intervals, and he wassuddenly struck by an idea.
"By Jove!" he shouted, to make himself heard, "I'll bet there is only oneman there. That's why the shots are so far apart."
"Well, we're pretty evenly matched," said Chester. "There are only six ofthem in condition to fight."
"Five," said Hal suddenly, as another of the enemy pitched suddenly tothe ground, a shot from beyond having struck him.
"See! they are going to charge him!" cried Chester, peering over hisfriend's shoulder.
It was true. The enemy had spread out as much as the road would permitand the man who appeared to be the leader raised his hand.
"We'll have to stop that," muttered Hal.
He raised his voice in a shout, which carried plainly to the foe.
The five men wheeled about suddenly and for the first time saw they werebeset in the rear as well as in front. For a moment they hesitated, thenturned and charged the new arrivals.
"Keep going!" shouted Hal. "And don't miss!"
The enemy fired first, but all the shots went wild. Suddenly Nikolchecked his horse, took deliberate aim and fired. A rider fell to theground. The range was still great, but Nikol's aim was true. A second mandropped at his second bullet.
Now Colonel Anderson and Hal fired simultaneously. Another mandropped--it was impossible to tell whether Hal or Colonel Anderson hadscored a hit.
The two remaining riders drew their horses upon their haunches, andheaded them for the friendly protection of the trees. Hal and ColonelAnderson fired a parting shot, but they were unable to tell whether thebullets had gone home.
Chester, behind Hal, had been unable to get into the battle, Hal's figureinterfering with his aim.
"Well, I don't think the two of them will bother us," said Hal.
"No," Chester agreed. "And there are two loose horses. I'm going to getone of them."
"Better make it two," said Colonel Anderson. "Our ally beyond, whoever hemay be, may need one."
Chester nodded.
"He deserves one," he said. "He knocked off three of these fellows."
He secured the two horses without much trouble, mounted one and ledthe other.
"Now we'll have an interview with our friend," he said.
They rode forward slowly.
"Funny he doesn't come out and show himself," said Hal.
"Guess he thinks we are enemies, too," suggested Colonel Anderson."Well--whoa, there."
He broke off suddenly and ducked his head, for a bullet had whistled justabove him. He raised his voice in a shout:
"Hey!" he cried in English, forgetting just where he was, "what do youmean shooting at us? Quit it. We're friends."
"That you, Hal?" came a familiar voice.
Hal, Chester and Colonel Anderson gazed into each other's eyes almostdumbfounded.
"Well, what do you think of that?" exclaimed Hal.
There came a pleased chuckle from one member of the party, who rushedforward happily.
&nb
sp; It was Nikol.
"Now where is he going?" demanded Chester anxiously.
"Going to greet his friend Stubbs," returned Hal. "To Nikol, Stubbs is abrave man and a grand fighter; and what has happened just now will onlyincrease his admiration. Come on, let's go and have a look forourselves."
"Is that you, Hal, Chester?" came Stubbs' voice again.
"Yes," Hal shouted back.
They rode forward.
Anthony Stubbs, now that he had found his friends again, came forward asfast as his queer stature would permit. He was puffing and blowing sohard by the time he reached them that he could hardly talk. Of Nikol, whostuck close to his side, eyeing him admiringly, he took no notice.
"By George! It's good to see you fellows again," declared Stubbs. "Ithought my days were numbered when that gang of ruffians set upon me.I didn't want to fight, but I had to. It seems to me I got seven oreight of them."
"Well, how do you happen to be here, anyhow?" demanded Chester.
"My horse threw me and went away by himself," said Stubbsmournfully. "If I ever see him again I'll tell him about it. Hemight have got me killed."
Nikol now forced himself in front of Stubbs and extended a hand.
"Mr. Stubbs," he said quietly, "you are a brave and gallant man."
Stubbs was pleased. He made as though to take the hand; then thoughtbetter of it. He remembered the grip of those powerful fingers.
He shuddered.
"I know it, Nikol," he said gravely.
He put out his hand and patted the dwarf on the head.
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