THE HUMAN BUCKLER. 83 



resemblance to a rein, and by the mere sound of his voice, he caused the steed to 

 step backward keeping his head turned toward the hunters, and thus enabling the 

 chief to guard himself effectively with his human buckler. 



Jack Harvey uttered an expression too forcible for me to record. 



" If the grinning imp would only show his head, I'd let daylight through him, 

 but he's too cunning ; well, I ain't done with him yet," he added, keeping his rifle 

 at his shoulder, and on the watch for the first chance to get in his work, as the 

 expression goes. 



The steed of the chieftain retrograded until he had taken his place among the 

 others. Then, at a word from him, the whole party wheeled about and dashed 

 toward the hills whence they came. 



"I'll be hanged if I can stand that!" exclaimed the Texan, with the old thrill 

 which had nerved his arm many a time on the South-western prairies; "I'll make it 

 lively for them if I can't do anything more ! " 



Leaping to where his saddled and bridled mustang was standing, he vaulted into 

 the seat, and, facing the Bushmen, started in furious pursuit of the whole party. 



"He goes to his death," said Mr. Godkin, "but I cannot desert him." 



" And we can't desert either of you," added Bob Marshall, echoing the senti- 

 ments of his cousin, who was equally prompt in making a break for his pony. 



Jack Harvey did not expect the help of his friends, in the daring effort to save 

 Pongo, nor did Mr. Godkin, in his chivalrous essay to aid the Texan, look for the as- 

 sistance of the youths; but, all the same, it was given as eagerly in one case as the 

 other. 



Jack's horse was the only one that was ready for the brush, but the rest were 

 prepared in a twinkling. Before the Bushmen had passed over the ridge, with Jack 

 Harvey close behind, the other three were stringing after them. 



Had the wild men divided their party, and sent one portion, by a roundabout 

 way, to the camp, they would have had little trouble in destroying every native left, 

 and driving off or killing the stock. 



Mr. Godkin thought of this danger, but he felt it more important to save the life 

 of the Texan than to stay behind to defend the natives and the property. 



Exasperated as was Jack, he did not lose his presence of mind, and he under- 

 stood the difficulties that confronted him. He had just seen an evidence of the 

 cunning of the Bushmen, and he meant that, whatever took place, he would not run 

 into such a trap as had ensnared Pongo. 



The wild men went over the hills just as he started up the base. He saw sev- 

 eral glance around at him, and the instant they vanished, he changed the direction 

 of his mustang, so that, instead of coursing to the top where the Bushmen expected 

 him to appear, he reached the crest more than a hundred yards away. 



Not only that, but he decreased the speed of his pony, so as to be prepared for 

 any sudden movement on the part of his enemy. 



Well, indeed, was it for him that he did so. 



