Chauncy was a splendid horseman, and knew all of the tricks that class of men use to keep up the speed of their horses. By sundry tricks he managed to increase the speed of his horse so much that it held its own against the better and fresher horses of the Comanches. The latter were in a bad enough humor at the escape of the Donna, and the sight of the young hunter keeping the same distance away from them infuriated them.
They thought that he was going to escape, and resolved that he never would get off alive. They would rather kill him on the spot than that this should happen.
A volley of bullets were sent after him, but none touched the hunter, although several whizzed past him in rather close proximity. His horse was not so lucky, however.
One of the bullets struck it, and the poor animal reeled and staggered for a moment before falling to the ground.
There was no need of this. The Comanches ought to have known that the speed which the hunter had got out of his horse was its last efforts, and in all probability it would have dropped down after reaching the trees.
Chauncy, with an active leap, managed to get off from the horse without getting his horse upon his legs.
He did not stop an instant after putting his feet upon terra firma, but made tracks for the trees, using all the speed he could command. The Indians dashed after him, but they were too late to catch him.
He reached the trees, and, jumping quickly behind one, turned and presented his rifle at the foe.
There was only one man, and twenty Comanches are not in the habit of stopping when this is the case.
So the Indians kept on, although they felt sure that some were rushing to their death.