“New York Harry! My gal is not far off either. By Heaven! Cohoon shan’t kill him; he’s for me!”
And drawing a pistol, he took as steady aim as the flickering light of the torch would allow, and fired. The traitor reeled, and being released from the encircling arms of his astonished adversary, fell forward on his face on the rocks.
“Cohoon!” said Kit, advancing toward the Indian. “Gods, we were’nt looking for you. Where’s ’Reesa?”
“There,” and he pointed to where the insensible form of the girl had been dropped by the abductor to grapple with his unseen foe.
A moment later she was in her father’s arms.
“Away!” cried Cohoon; “the Modocs rush up the river. The noise of the pistol has reached their ears.”
Artena pointed to a corridor that tended to the left, into which she led the way, and was followed by the entire party.
CHAPTER XVI.
SETTLING ACCOUNTS.
The savages gained rapidly upon our friends, and near the mouth of the corridor they were brought to bay.