CHAPTER XV. 



A MASTERLY RETREAT. 



T|T was a time for coolness and nerve, and no man possessed more of those de- 

 sirable qualities than Jack Harvey, the Texan. 



Quick to learn from the example of the Bushman chieftain himself, he 

 spoke a few words to his mustang, and the sagacious animal instantly began 

 retreating up the slope which he had descended but a short time before. 



Jack had managed to draw the noose from the shoulders of the savage, and he 

 rapidly hauled in his lasso, while his pony withdrew, with his face toward the enemy. 

 That done, Jack coiled the rope loosely over the hook on his saddle, and brought 

 his rifle to the front 



He knew the leader was only stunned and would quickly be himself again. His 

 own escape must be effected during the few brief moments of the Bushman's un- 

 consciousness. 



Had he wheeled about and dashed up the hill, he would have brought a shower 

 of arrows after him, with the chances all in favor of receiving a number in his body. 

 His purpose, as you will see, was to get as far off as possible, before the Bushmen 

 could recover from their flurry, and then, at the critical moment, spur away at head- 

 long speed. 



Everything went with a rush. Like a trained circus horse, the mustang walked 

 backward up the incline one of the most difficult of all tasks for a horse, while 

 kis rider held his rifle prepared to shoot, and with his eyes fixed on the wild men, 

 all of whom were in his field of vision. 



Jack had retreated several rods when he detected a threatening movement. It 

 was at the moment when the war party were grouped around their fallen leader, 

 and the two that helped him to his feet saw he was not dead nor even seriously in- 

 jured. 



On the outer edge of the party, one of their number, seated on his horse, began 

 carefully adjusting a poisoned arrow to his bow. 



It was the same archer that had launched a missile at the Texan when his head 

 first showed over the crest of the hill. He was an expert, and the distance between 

 him and the white man was so much less than before, that he was sure to impale 

 Jack if allowed to fire a single arrow. 



"Hands up/" 



There was something so absurd in the command, under the circumstances, that 

 Bob, Dick and Mr. Godkin, who were watching the thrilling scene, smiled, the latter 

 remarking: 



" A man's early training is sure to show itself." 



The savage to whom the order was addressed could not be expected! to grasp 



9 



