CHAPTER XXIX.
A RACE FOR LIFE.
The Indians were taken by surprise. They so outnumbered their intendedcaptives that they had not anticipated an attempt at escape. But theyhad no intention of losing their prey. There was a howl of surprise anddisappointment; then they sprang for their horses, and, with littledelay, were on the track of our two friends.
The delay was small, but it was improved by Scott and Tom. Pressingtheir animals to their highest speed they gained a lead of severalhundred feet before their savage pursuers had fairly started. It waswell that Tom was a good rider, or he might not have been able to keephis seat. In fact, he had never ridden so rapidly before: but he feltthat he was riding for his life, and was only anxious to ride faster.Scott had felt a little anxious on this point; but his anxiety vanishedwhen he saw how easily and fearlessly his boy companion kept at hisside.
"Well done, Tom!" he said, as they flew over the prairie. "Keep up thispace, and we will escape yet."
"I can do it, if my horse holds out," returned Tom briefly.
Scott looked over his shoulder, and, brave man as he was, it almost madehim shudder. The whole party of Indians was on his track. He could seetheir dusky faces, distorted by wrath, and the longing for a savagerevenge. He knew that Tom and he had little to hope for if they werecaught. Fortunately their horses were strong and fleet, and not likelyto break down.
"Ride for your life, Tom!" he shouted. "They will show us no mercy ifthey catch us."
"All right, Mr. Scott!" said Tom, his face flushed, and panting withexcitement. If he had not felt that so much depended upon it; if hecould have thrust out from his mind the sense of the awful peril inwhich he stood--he would have enjoyed the furious pace at which hishorse was carrying him.
The horses ridden by the Indians were not equal in speed or endurance tothose which the two friends bestrode. They were fresher indeed, butthey did not make up for the difference between them. There was oneexception, however: Dan, the stolen horse, was not only equal to eitherof their horses, but had the advantage of being fresher. This, after awhile, began to tell. It was ridden by a young Indian brave, a brotherof the leader. Soon he drew away from his companions, and, yard by yard,lessened the distance between himself and the pursued. At the end ofthree miles he was close upon them, and at least fifty rods in advanceof his comrades. Scott saw this in one of his backward glances.
"Tom," said he, "the redskin on Dan is overhauling us."
"Will he catch us?"
"I mean to catch him," said Scott coolly.
Tom did not need to ask for an explanation. Scott wheeled round, tookhasty but accurate aim at the Indian, and fired. The hapless warriorreeled in his saddle, loosed his hold of the reins, and fell to theground, while his horse, continuing in his course, his pace acceleratedby fright, soon galloped alongside of Scott. There was a howl of ragefrom the main body of Indians, who saw the fate of their comrade,without being able to help him.
"Now, Tom, ride as you never rode before!" shouted Scott. "We willcircumvent those Indian devils yet, and bring Dan safe into camp. Comealong, Dan, old fellow; you're doing nobly."
Dan recognized the familiar voice. He entered into the spirit of therace, and, relieved from the weight of his rider, dashed forward withincreased speed, till he led, and Scott and Tom were forced to follow.
The Indians were mad with rage. Their comrade had received a fatalwound. They saw the round hole in his breast, from which the life-bloodwas gushing, and they thirsted for vengeance.
Should two palefaces, one of them a boy, escape from them? That would bea disgrace, indeed; the blood of their brother called for blood inreturn.
Could they have inspired their horses with the same spirit whichanimated themselves, they might, perhaps, have overtaken their intendedcaptives; but, happily for our two friends, the horses were lessinterested than their riders.
The danger was well-nigh over. It was scarcely two miles to the camp.There they would be so re-enforced that the Indians would not venture anattack. That was the goal they had in view. Already they could see inthe distance the wagon-train, ready for a start. They were surely safenow. But at this unlucky moment Tom's horse stumbled. The motion was sorapid that he could not retain his seat. He was thrown over the horse'shead, and lay stunned and insensible upon the ground. His horse kept onhis way to the camp.