The horses you will find at Tete Blanche Hill,
if we get there. If not, there is money under the white pine at my
cottage. Goodbye!"
They galloped away. But there were mounted men in the main street, and
one, well ahead of the others, was making towards the bridge over which
they must pass. He reached it before they did, and set his horse
crosswise in its narrow entrance. Pierre urged his mare in front of the
girl's, and drove straight at the head and shoulders of the obstructing
horse. His was the heavier animal, and it bore the other down. The
rider fired as he fell, but missed, and, in an instant, Pierre and the
girl were over. The fallen man fired the second time, but again missed.
They had a fair start, but the open prairie was ahead of them, and there
was no chance to hide. Riding must do all, for their pursuers were in
full cry. For an hour they rode hard. They could see their hunters not
very far in the rear. Suddenly Pierre started and sniffed the air.
"The prairie's on fire," he said exultingly, defiantly. Almost as he
spoke, clouds ran down the horizon, and then the sky lighted up. The
fire travelled with incredible swiftness: they were hastening to meet it.
It came on wave-like, hurrying down at the right and the left as if to
close in on them. The girl spoke no word; she had no fear: what Pierre
did she would do.
Pages:
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72