KAWEAH' S RUN. 127 



10. They were Mexicans, the same who had swam 

 King's River the afternoon before, and, as it flashed on 

 me finally, the two whom I had studied so attentively at 

 Yisalia. Then I at once saw their purpose was to waylay 

 me, and made up my mind to give them a lively run. 

 The road followed the bank up to their camp, in an east- 

 erly direction, and then, turning a sharp right angle to the 

 north, led out upon the open plain, leaving the river 

 finally. 



11. I decided to strike across, and threw Kaweah into 

 a sharp trot. I glanced at my girth, and then at the bright 

 copper upon my pistol, and settled myself firmly in the 

 saddle. Finding that they could not saddle quickly enough 

 to attack me mounted, the older villain grabbed a shot- 

 gun, and sprang to head me off, his comrade meantime 

 tightening the cinches. I turned Kaweah off to the left, 

 and tossed him a little more rein, which he understood, 

 and sprang out into a gallop. The robber brought his 

 gun to his shoulder, covered me, and yelled, in good Eng- 

 lish, " Hold on ! " 



12. At that instant his companion dashed up, leading 

 the other horse. In another instant they were mounted 

 and after me, yelling to the mustangs, plunging in the 

 spurs, and shouting occasional volleys of oaths. By this 

 time I regained the road, which lay before me, traced over 

 the blank, objectless plain in vanishing perspective. Fif- 

 teen miles lay between me and a station ; Kaweah and 

 a pistol were my only defense ; yet at that moment I felt 

 a thrill of pleasure, a wild moment of inspiration, almost 

 worth the danger to experience. 



13. I glanced over my shoulder, and found that the 

 Mexicans were crowding their horses to the fullest speed ; 

 their hoofs, rattling on the dry plain, were accompanied 

 by inarticulate noises, like the cries of blood-hounds. 



