“Very well, my boy. I hold you to your word.”
“But don’t you ever ask me to save an Injun again, for I won’t do it!”
“All right.”
“And while we’ve been rowing, that blamed squaw is getting away. She’ll carry the alarm to the other Indians as sure as shooting!”
“She won’t!” returned the scout, with confidence. “Ride on with your men, Dick. Cut your way through that gang of reds to the gates of the fort if necessary. Off with you! Leave the girl to me!”
With a wave of his hand he clapped spurs to Chief, and pulled sharply on his rein. The girl had almost reached the mouth of the cañon when Cody started in direct pursuit.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CHASE OF THE WHITE ANTELOPE.
The Border King did not pick his way as he spurred the great white horse down the declivity after the flying Indian girl. He allowed Chief to guide himself, for he felt confidence in the horse’s sense. They went down the hill like an avalanche, and an avalanche of small stones and broken brush went with them.
To the troopers behind on the ridge, to the defenders of the fort, and to the Indians themselves who saw the charge of the big white horse, it seemed that neither horse nor rider could reach the bottom alive.