[pg 174]
CHAPTER XXII -A SECRET OF TWO
Catching the intention of the maddened man, now bent only on swift revenge, Banion sprang to the head of his horse, flinging out an arm to keep Jackson out of the saddle. The horse, frightened at the stubborn struggle between the two, sprang away. Woodhull was pulled flat by the rope about his neck, nor could he loosen it now with his hands, for the horse kept steadily away. Any instant and he might be off in a mad flight, dragging the man to his death.
"Ho! Pronto--Vien aqui!"
Banion's command again quieted the animal. His ears forward, he came up, whickering his own query as to what really was asked of him.
Banion caught the bridle rein once more and eased the rope. Jackson by now had his shotgun and was shouting, crazed with anger. Woodhull's life chance was not worth a bawbee.
It was his enemy who saved it once again, for inscrutable but unaltered reasons of his own.
"Drop that, Jackson!" called Banion. "Do as I tell you! This man's mine!"
Cursing himself, his friend, their captive, the horse, his gun and all animate and inanimate Nature in his blood rage, the old man, livid in wrath, stalked away at length. "I'll kill him sometime, ef ye don't yerself!" he screamed, his beard trembling. "Ye damned fool!"