“Hello, my man! Where are you bound for?”
The horse turned its head toward us, but the rider did not move, and immediately started off at a breakneck gallop.
Although we were well mounted, and endeavored to follow him, he soon disappeared in a path thickly overgrown with brushwood. We consequently lost scent of the fugitive, and my companion very sensibly observed that we had better not follow him, as he might easily blow out our brains, under shelter of the rocks or hidden behind the brushwood, before we were aware of his presence.
We therefore retraced our steps toward our cabin, which we reached an hour later.
My second companion, who, in consequence of a slight wound, had remained at home, came toward us in great excitement.
“I’m glad you’re back, boys!” he cried.
“Heavens, man! what has happened?” I asked anxiously.[Pg 51]
He was as white as a corpse, and sighed as if relieved when we reached him.
“It was awful, I tell you, awful. In all my life I shall never forget what has happened to me.”
“Come along; stop your quaking, and tell us what’s wrong. Seen any suckers or a ghost?” said I smilingly, while Anderson asked impatiently: