THE BACKWOODSMAN.



Indian's horse began to be winded, while Czar still held his
head and tail erect. I rapidly drew nearer, in spite of the
terrible blows the Redskin dealt his horse, and when about
thirty paces behind the foe, I turned slightly to the left, in
order, if I could, to avoid wounding his horse by my shot. I
raised my revolver and fired, but at the same instant the
Indian disappeared from sight, with the exception of his left
foot, with which he held on to the saddle, while the rest of
his body was suspended on the side away from me. With
the cessation of the blows, however, the speed of his horse
relaxed, and I was able to ride close up. Suddenly the Indian
regained his seat and urged on his horse with the whip; I
fired and missed again, for I aimed too high in my anxiety
to spare the mustang. We went on thus at full gallop till
we reached a very broad ravine, over which the Indian could
not leap. He, therefore, dashed past my left hand, trying
at the same moment to draw an arrow from the quiver over
his left shoulder. I fired for the third time; with the shot
the Comanche sank back on his horse's croup, hung on with
his feet, and went about a hundred yards farther, when he fell
motionless in the tall grass. As he passed me, I had noticed
that he was bleeding from the right chest and mouth, and
was probably already gone to the happy hunting-grounds.
I galloped after the mustang, which soon surrendered, though
with much trembling, to the pale face; I fastened its bridle
to my saddle bow, led both horses into a neighbouring thicket,
and reloaded my revolver.
  I remained for about half-an-hour in my hiding-place,
whence I could survey the landscape around, but none of the
Indian's comrades made their appearance, and I, therefore,
rode up to him to take his weapons. He was dead. The
bullet had passed through his chest. I took his bow, quiver
and buffalo hide, and sought for the arrows he had shot at
me as I rode back. I resolved to pass the night at the ponds,
not only to rest my animals, but also to conceal myself from
the Indians who, I felt sure, were not far off. I was not



4