“Don’t be a fool, man. You can’t save her and yourself.”
“Then we’ll both drown,” returned Boyd Bennett, with the determination of a still fearless man.
“I’ll give you your freedom!” roared Cody, at desperate straits now.
“I’ll not take it of you. If I die she goes with me—ah!”
A sudden eddy seized the man and swung him toward the island. He had evidently stored some remaining energy, and this he now put forth. He seemed fairly to leap forward in the water which was over his head near the bank. But he caught at a drooping tree-branch and held on.
Now, could Cody only have reached him, Boyd Bennett would have been at his mercy. But only for an instant did the weakness overpower him. He swung in shoreward, his feet found footing on a ledge of rock, and in another minute he clambered up out of the water, and, with the unfortunate girl still hanging limply over his shoulder, passed out of the scout’s sight!
The island was well wooded. It contained about half an acre and was long and narrow. It was so long that from the bank to which Cody had again turned his mount, he could not see whether the bandit found some immediate way of leaving it, and so reaching the farther shore of the river, or not.
There was no time to waste for Buffalo Bill, therefore. He must press after the man and the girl, giving the former no time to recover his strength, and, perhaps, make his escape from the island.
But Chief could not help his master across the deep water to the ledgy island. Nor could Buffalo Bill make it encumbered by his heavy accouterments. That was not to be considered for a moment!
He dismounted and let Chief go free. The old horse had done his share well, and as soon as he was relieved of the saddle and bridle, he lay down and rolled as though to get the cramps out of his body. The water of the river was ice-cold.