Mark Mallory was a strong swimmer, as those who remember his rescue of Grace Fuller can testify; his hands were all bandaged up, which interfered with him considerably, but he had gotten off his coat in expectation of some such smash-up as this, and so he was able to take care of himself. The only person who needed help was Indian. As Dewey had said, Indian was too fat to sink; he fairly bounced about on the top of the water, something after the fashion of a bubble. He was scared, none the less, however, and his yells and gurgles made the horrified people on the shore imagine he was being gored to death.
Several of the plebes got him by the hair of his round little head and towed him in, where he was pulled ashore by some one. The others straggled in one by one, Mark and the dignified Chauncey, who considered it bad form to hurry, coming last. Once on land they stared at each other in disgust, while the crowd gathered about them to ask questions; and then suddenly Mark gave an exclamation of alarm. He noticed that one of the Seven was missing.
“Where’s Texas?” he cried.
That was the first time any one had missed the gallant cowboy; for, sure enough, he was not there.
“That rope was tied about his waist,” shouted Dewey. “He couldn’t get away.”
Dewey made a dash for the water, several of the others at his heels. But at that moment a voice was heard from the darkness that made them stop in surprise.
“You fellers needn’t be a-comin’ out hyar fo’ me,” said the voice. I’m a-gittin’ in all right, only it’s slow. Git up, thar, you ole coyote of a buffalo, you.”
The sight which loomed up in the darkness a few minutes later was rather a startling one. There was the huge, shaggy buffalo, exhausted and subdued, but still swimming, and there was the hilarious Texas mounted on his back!
That insult and indignity had taken all the spirit out of the beast; he was allowing himself to be steered meekly by the horns, and when he scrambled up the bank he allowed Smithers’ men to tie him up without a word of protest, the triumphant cowboy still keeping his seat.
And that was the end of the excitement.