The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 2 — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

326 into Derby’s mouth, Symmonds knelt beside him and whispered something into his ear. Gerard, who until then had been calm, seemed to turn into amadman. He strained and tore at the ropes that- bound him, for a moment throwing aside the two men that held him down. . Symmonds laughed hoarsely. ‘“ Nancy will enjoy the account of your death, and she will enjoy having me tell her all about it. ‘Hustle up, men!” he shouted. “ Throw him on a horse! We have twenty miles to cover and we must hurry.”’ Again Derby was placed in a saddle. A stunning blow from a pistol-butt assisted in quieting his struggles. His feet as be- fore were tied into the stirrup leathers with rawhide thongs, and with a man leading his mount, he was placed in the middle of the column that rode southward in column of twos. One of the men in the rear started the lugubrious verses of ‘‘ Sam Hall ” and the others joined in with harsh, tuneless voices. On and on jogged the column at a steady, distance punishing trot. Derby’s mind pondered upon some pos- sible chance for escape. In the dark there was a possibility that if he could once break into the chaparral he might stand a chance of eluding the conspirators. No matter what the risk, he realized that it would be better than quietly awaiting cer- tain death. Like a cat he watched every movement of the man who was leading his horse. The others were strung out over a dis- tance.of two hundred yards on account of the roughness of the trail, which was barely wide enough to permit two to ride abreast. Suddenly the horse next him slipped on a slab of limestone and almost fell. The rider was thrown forward in the saddle and for a moment relaxed his grip on the bridle of the horse that Derby was riding. Seizing the opportunity, Gerard drove his heels deep against his mount’s side, and the pony bounded forward. THE ARGOSY. It was a chance in a thousand at best. Bound hand and foot, Derby could only guide the pony with his knees. It was a bad trail by daylight; to gallop over it at night was to court almost certain de- struction, yet it was his one chance, and he knew it. Behind him he heard wild shouts, and the crashing of hoofs upon the rocks, then a mad curse as some horse and rider went down. For a moment escape seemed almost real. Then a shot barked out. The bullet scarred his cheek, the report echoing back from the rocks. Following the shot came others, the bullets smashing themselves upon the rocky slabs about Gerard and to carom, whining, into the air. It could not last. The sixth shot went true. Derby felt his horse gather himself beneath him as if for one tremendous leap and then bound forward. For three strides the pony kept the pace, then staggered and fell headlong. Wild with rage, the Vampas fell upon Derby, kicking his prostrate form. “It’s only half-mile more,” hissed Sym- monds. ‘ Drag him!” Two of the men uncoiled their lariats and fastened them about Gerard’s arm- pits, then remounted and spurred their horses forward, till the ropes pulled taut and his body dragged behind them. Using every muscle in his neck, he managed to keep his head raised a few inches from the ground. For a minute he stood the strain, then human will-power could endure no more, and he fainted. The motion suddenly ceased. Into Gerard’s quarter consciousness came the sound of far-away voices, among which he caught West Symmond’s malignant tones: “Drop him carefully! We don’t want tc break any bones.” ‘““ Leave the snakes to attend to him!” some one else cut in. Derby felt something lift and sway him back and forth as if he were in a bunk at sea. Then he had the sensation of dropping through space as in a dream. (To Be Continued.) COMMICLOOOLK (C@