Loud and clear came the answering yell of the Delaware, as he sprung forward in hot pursuit of the fleeing foe. He only thought that his enemies were before him, and his heart was filled with ferocious hatred.
The foremost Arapahoe reached the horses, and it seemed as though the secondary object of the two scouts would be defeated, after all; but the frantic haste of the savage favored them, unexpectedly. In his terror, he made a quick grasp at the trailing halter; but his foot slipping upon the damp grass, he fell to the ground, even as his fingers tightened upon the plaited rope.
The sudden jerk added to the mustang’s affright, and caused him to rear violently back, half-raising the Indian to his feet; but then the hand slipped from the smooth rope, and thus freed, the terrified horse turned with a shrill scream and dashed madly up the valley, followed by its companions.
A faint cry broke from the lips of the Arapahoes, at this new misfortune, but they dared not pause. Close behind them they could hear the heavy tramp of their enemies, and then came two more shots.
Without pausing a moment, the savages dashed on, while the one whose haste had wrought them such harm, scrambled to his feet. But no sooner was he up, than he was down again.
Delaware Tom, with a shrill scream of frantic fury, pounced upon his back, hurling the red-skin violently forward, his face plowing up the decayed grass and soft dirt. Half-senseless from the shock, he offered but feeble resistance to his powerful enemy.
Delaware Tom dug his knees violently into the back of the Arapahoe, while one hand clutched his neck with the force of a vise. Then the empty revolver was upraised, for a moment remaining motionless to gather momentum; then the heavy, brass-bound butt fell with a sickening thud full upon the bared head of the ill-fated savage.
Another yell broke from Tom’s lips, as he dashed the clotted blood and brains from his eyes, and sprung to his feet, glaring ferociously around in search of another victim. But the carnage was over.
The two surviving Arapahoes had vanished among the shadows, and Travers was returning from the pursuit. But Tom darted forward, his eyes glowing with a diabolical fire.
“Stop, Tom,” cried the soldier, as he grasped his comrade, “where are you going? They’ve got clear off by now. You couldn’t find them in the dark, anyhow.”