CHAPTER XI.
A RUTHLESS VILLAIN.
It was just before sunrise that they started on their way; Lumleyriding the horse, and Gray walking by the horse's side. It was withgreat difficulty that Gray had managed to get his companion on thehorse. Lumley had made it more difficult than it need have been. Hewas anxious that Gray should believe his foot was much worse than itreally was. The night before he had found himself quite capable ofgetting rapidly along on hands and feet, and even of standing for amoment, holding on by the horse.
"Goes like a lamb, don't he?" he said to Gray as they went across theplain. "No fear of his kicking up his heels again, is there?"
"Not much," said Gray with a pitiful look at the poor worn-out creature.
"Well, he won't run off with anything this time," said Lumley with alaugh; "I've taken care of that. But he'll go straight for the wateragain, that's what he'll do, and carry me with him."
Lumley spoke again after a moment
"You might go after that wagon when we get to water, partner. What doyou think of that plan, eh?"
"I think it's the best plan."
"And you could take the money with you, couldn't you? I suppose youwouldn't leave it with me?"
"I had better take it," Gray answered heavily.
Lumley darted a suspicious glance at him.
"You're down in the mouth, ain't you, partner? You'd better be advisedby me." He stopped the horse. "Come, mate, let's strike a bargain.Share and share alike. Half of it's a pretty pile for any cove. Andwho'd be the wiser or the worse for it? You go off to England and livelike the gentleman you are. I'll not blow on you, and nobody elseknows a word about it. Come, there's a fair offer; and I mean it, mindyou."
Gray looked steadily up at him.
"It's no good, Lumley; nothing you could say would tempt me. You'rewasting your words."
A sulky frown settled on Lumley's face. He jerked on the horse.
"Wastin' my words, am I? I won't waste any more of 'em. You can do asyou like."
They went on in silence for some time. Gray broke it.
"There are the trees," he said.
Lumley gave a sudden start, and Gray saw his face change colour.
"I didn't expect 'em so soon," he said huskily. He stared at them witha gloomy troubled look, and then glanced at Gray, who was walking on apace or two ahead with his head sunk on his breast. Lumley's handstole to his pocket. There was a pistol there. He gripped it, thenlet it go and dragged his hand away.
"Look here, partner," he cried out hoarsely.
Gray turned round.
"You'll leave us the reward? The bank will pay it in a jiffy, and gladenough. You ain't goin' to be fool enough to lose us that?"
Gray's face set in stern determination.
"You are wasting your words, as I told you just now. What claim havewe to the reward? They don't reward thieves for returning what theystole. I have told you what I mean to do. I shall do it."
Lumley's hand had gone back to his pocket, and lay hidden there. Hedid not speak again for some moments. They were full in sight of thetrees now, and to the left the low ridge had become visible.
"We'd better strike off here, I think," said Gray. "It will be easierfor the horse a little lower down."
They turned as he suggested.
"It's pretty close now, ain't it?" asked Lumley huskily.
"Just over the ridge. The track was plain enough, even by moonlight,We can't miss it."
Lumley made no answer, but the moment after he came to a stand-still.
"What's the matter with the horse?" he exclaimed. "It's dead lame."
Gray turned round and looked at it
"A stone in the hoof, perhaps," he said, bending down to take a look.
The moment he stooped Lumley drew out his pistol and took aim at him.Gray's life was saved by the horse. As he bent down and lifted up thehoof it made a sudden, violent swerve away from him. It was at thatmoment Lumley pulled the trigger. The bullet whistled past Gray'shead, and he sprang up, dazed and horrified, but quite unhurt, and madea clutch at Lumley's arm. But the arm was already lifted with thesmoking pistol in it, and it descended with crushing force on Gray'supturned brow. Lumley had no need to repeat the blow. Gray fell backwithout a groan, and lay upon the earth as senseless and motionless asone already dead. For the moment Lumley thought he was dead.
A TREACHEROUS BLOW]
"He brought it on himself," he muttered, as he stared down at the stillfigure. And then added, "I'll make sure; it's safest."
He levelled his pistol again, but he did not fire. His arm fell by hisside. He could not fire. An oath at his own weakness broke from hislips. He thrust from him the pity that had taken the strength from hisarm, and raised the pistol again. He meant to fire this time. But hisopportunity was gone. The horse had been straining at the reins eversince he had fired, and now with a sudden jerk it got its head free andbolted off at a wild gallop along the bottom of the ridge. Lumleyclutched at the reins again, but the horse was beyond control, and hehad the utmost difficulty in keeping his seat. He tried to turn thehorse up the ridge, but the frantic animal rushed blindly on. It wasmad with terror.
The blow had badly stunned Gray, and it was some time before herecovered consciousness. Even then he could not recall clearly whathad happened or where he was, but lay looking up at the sky, tryingvainly to get his confused thoughts clear.
After a few moments he raised himself slowly and languidly on his arm,and looked round him. The trees were close at hand. There were crowssitting on them watching him, and on the sand not far off him two orthree more had stationed themselves. Quite near them there laysomething that Gray recognized with a thrill. It was the pistol Lumleyhad dropped as the horse dashed away.
Gray could remember it all now. He lived over again that terriblemoment when the bullet had sung past his ear, and he had leapt up toclutch Lumley's murderous arm. But where was Lumley?
Gray raised himself into a sitting posture as he asked himself thatquestion, and looked up the ridge, half expecting to see Lumley justcrossing it to the water below; but the ridge showed no signs of him orof the horse. Yet as Gray looked and listened he could plainly hearthe sound of galloping hoofs, just as he had heard them two nightsbefore.
He turned his head away from the ridge, and looked in the oppositedirection. And then with a cry he staggered to his feet. The horsewas coming rapidly towards him with Lumley clinging to it, his bodythrown forwards, his arms clutching the horse's neck.
"Help me! Save me! Stop the horse!" broke in shrill cries from thelips of the terrified man as he was whirled past Gray.
Gray staggered forward and made a clutch at the hanging rein; but hemight as well have tried to stop a whirlwind. The horse dashed pasthim along the ridge, in the path it had traversed before, and then, asbefore, swerved aside and rushed away into the Bush.
Gray sank back upon the ground, and covered his face with his hands.He could do nothing.
It was not long before he heard the sound of the returning hoofs. Hestruggled to his feet once more and looked.
The horse was coming back on its path, swaying wildly from side toside, with foaming mouth and staring eyeballs; and this time noterrified, white-faced suppliant was clinging to its back shrieking outto Gray for help. The horse was riderless!
Riderless! But what was that dark lifeless weight hanging by thestirrup, dragged across sand and bramble as the horse staggered on? Asickening, paralysing fear took possession of Gray as he saw and knew.He stood with his eyes fixed upon it unable to move.
The horse staggered on, but not far. It suddenly gave a dreadful cryand fell. There was a struggle, a moan, and then it lay still, asstill as the dead body by its side.
Gray drew near, drew close. He looked down upon the face of the manwho had deserted him, and attempted to murder him. Then withdifficulty he dragged the body from under the horse and straightened itout. The wallet
containing the money fell from the shoulders of thedead man as he did so, and opened, showing the gold and notes. Graydid not even look at them. He laid the body out in decent fashion, andcovered the dreadful face.
Then he stumbled away across the sands, caring not whither he went,caring only to get away from the spot where the dead man lay. His eyeswere burning and throbbing, there was a great singing in his ears. Hesank down again. His limbs refused to carry him further. Then came asudden silence, a great darkness, and he knew no more.