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Show A RIDE FOR LIFE It was a beautiful midsummer afternoon. The sun was shining brightly upon one of the large plains of Texas, dotted here and there by settler's houses and the glittering waters of the Rio Grande. Riding up the dusty brown road at a slow pace was an army officer upon a large sorrel thoroughbred, which seemed over impatient to move more rapidly onward. The rider was a young man, with a handsome sun browned face. He had bright gray eyes, a tight moustache hid his well-cut lips and a wealth of dark brown curly hair clustered around his head. As he was passing a wayside house, the owner came out and hailed him. "Colonel, hold a minute." The young officer turned his horse, and rode up to the man. "Colonel," said the man, "that Mexican band of thieves crossed the river this morning, and they intend mischief." "Yes," said the colonel, "those Mexican raiders are the plague of the country. Have you seen the rascals?" "Yes; I met them this morning, when they crossed the river, and they told me they intended to kill the Thomson family before they go back, so I concluded to tell you. I thought you might warn Thomson to get out of the way." "Why, what have they against Thomson?" "?? know Thomson chased two of them away when they were trying to steal his horse. They have boasted that they intend to kill every man, woman and child in the family." "When do they intend to do it?" "As they come back. They have gone down in the valley; but, from what they said that they will be back in two hours or so." "As soon as that?" said the colonel, "then I will not have time to ride to camp for help." "?? said they may be back in an hour; ?? ??" "Well, if they may be back so soon, I'd better be going if I wish to save the family. Good-day." "Good day," said the man, as the colonel's horse bounded at a rapid pace up the road. Thomson's house was about a mile and a half distant. Reaching it, the colonel rode hastily up to the door and knocked. "Hallo, Colonel Charlie," said the good-hearted farmer, "come in and have a drink of milk, and cool yourself. It is a might hot day." "No, I thank you, that band of Mexican cut throats have crossed the river again, and"- "Have they?" exclaimed the settler, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Yes; and they have threatened to murder you and your family." "And I have no mercy to expect from them. That thief I hurt for attempting to steal one of my horses was one of their gang, and I suppose they are thirsting for revenge." "Yes, Thomson, "said the colonel, "the best thing for you to do is to leave here as soon as possible, and go to camp." The settler hastened away to alarm those within. The family consisted of Thomson, wife, brother and two children-a boy and a girl. The boy was about a dozen years of age, and the girl was six. After quickly hitching a pair of horses to the wagon, it was soon loaded, the colonel working as industriously as any. The children were put in it, and Thomson's brother-in-law drove away, leaving the rest to fill the remaining wagon. The man had driven but a short distance when the little girl began to cry for her doll. "Oh, never mind your doll, I'll buy you another," said her uncle. "Oh, please let me go back and get my doll," cried the child. "I'll go straight to mamma." She cried and begged so hard, that at last her uncle put her out and told her to hurry straight to her mother. Going back she entered the house unobserved, and sitting down on the floor soon fell asleep. It was some time after the wagon had started that the other one was ready. They therefore had traveled nearly two miles before overtaking it. Then the mother, putting her head out of the wagon, call to her boy. "Where is your sister?" "She's with you," said the boy. "Isn't she with you?" cried Mrs. Thomson to her brother. "No, she is in your wagon." "Oh, heaven!" cried the mother, "my child is left behind." For a moment all were silent, gazing in each other's faces, till Thomson said: "I fear I could not get back before the bandits would be there. That dust in the distance, I suppose, is caused by the band. Perhaps they may not injure the child." "But," cried the mother, frantically, "they have sworn to kill every man, woman and child in the house. If they should spare her, they would carry her off into slavery, which would be even worse. Oh, my child, my child!" "I know not what to do," exclaimed the bewildered father. "There is but one thing that can be done," said the young officer. I'll ride back, and rescue her if it be in my power." "God bless you colonel, God bless you! May heaven reward you!" exclaimed the mother, her eyes filling with tears as she saw the noble young fellow turn his horse and gallop down the road. The colonel galloped on till he reached the settler's house. Then riding around to the back he looked in through the open window. There lay the child upon the floor asleep, grasping her doll. "Oh, Colonel Charlie, where's my mamma?" cried the child when he awakened her. "Your mother has gone away; but I have come to take you to her. Now, come to the window, and I will lift you on the horse. Be quick!" Lifting her up before him, he clasped her firmly about the waist, and turning his horse's head, plunged up the road. He could plainly distinguish the bandits now as they were moving towards the house. He had ridden about half a mile when the Mexican band got sight of him. They immediately changed their course, not directly toward him, but so as to intercept him about midway between the settler's home and camp. The colonel understood their movement, and knew they had a shorter distance to ride. For a moment he hesitated and looked back, but in that instant he decided to move forward, for he saw several stragglers of the band had already reach the house. "My horse is faster than any of theirs" he muttered, "and that is my only hope. Now, Hero," said he to the thoroughbred, as he patted the horse's arched neck, "you have a hard ride before you. Now, do your level best, old boy." The horse seemed to understand, for he pricked up his ears, and shook his head as if eager for the race. "Now, my little girl, put your arms about me, and hold on tight. You are not afraid, are you?" "No; not with you," she replied, as she looked up in the young fellow's handsome face. The next moment the thoroughbred was flying at a rapid rate. The bandits saw it, and with a wild yell urged their horses at full speed. Rapidly they shortened the distance between them until they were not more than a mile and a half apart. The colonel saw it was a critical moment. He glanced toward the camp; he saw the wagons had already arrived, and the soldiers were out in front of the tents eagerly watching the race. He grasped the little girl's waist till he hurt her, then bracing himself firmly in the stirrups, he gave a wild yell at the horse. The animal sprang into the air, and the next moment it was flying over the plains at such a rate that one misstep would have been fatal. Each moment they came close together; the colonel was gaining rapidly on them, but he had a much longer distance to ride. the excitement among the soldiers in front of the tents grew intense as each moment brought them closer and closer. A deathlike silence fell upon the men as the critical moment drew near. "He is lost," said one of the soldiers. "Yes, it is all over with him," repeated another. A tear stood in many an eye; for the colonel was a favorite with them all. "Look! look," cried several of the men. Yes, look! When the bandits were almost upon him, the horse suddenly gave a splendid burst of speed worthy of his blood. Was he running or flying! He was down to his work at last. The next moment both parties leaped to the hollow that lay between them and the camp, and were lost to view. Silently soldiers watched that hollow. They knew it was now a question of life and death, and eagerly, almost breathlessly, they watched the result. The next moment the colonel came full in view from the hollow. A low cheer almost involuntarily burst from the men, but it soon subsided, for it was now the paramount moment. He was passing the Mexicans at about seventy yards. They raised their guns and fired. Did he reel or fall? No; he was still firmly seated in the saddle. A loud cheer broke from the soldiers that rang far over the plains. The band gave chase; but rapidly he widened the distance between them. "The colonel's safe," cried the men. But he was not. He was rapidly approaching a growth of willows near a pool of water, when suddenly a mounted Mexican, armed with a revolver, sprang from behind him. It looked as if he had escaped one danger but to fall into another. He had no chance to defend himself. One arm was about the girl, with the other he had to grasp the bridle; and even if he could use it, he could not get at his revolver. If he laid the child on the ground, before he could defend himself and get her again the bandits would be upon him. So he concluded to press onward. The villain rushed toward him, exclaiming as he raised the pistol and took aim: "Al fin se canta la gloria," (boast not till the victory is won). At that moment there was a low report, scarcely audible for the distance, and the Mexican reeling in his saddle and fell to the earth. The colonel looked ahead of him, and there, fully half a mile away, stood a tall Kentuckian, grasping a rifle which he had just discharged. The colonel pushed on, and as he passed the soldier, the latter said: "I rather guess I fetched him, colonel." "Yes, it was a splendid shot. Go into camp. You will be corporal when get there." "A corporal," muttered the tall Kentuckian. "Mighty lucky shot, that. Didn't expect to be a corporal for a year yet." In a few moments more the colonel plunged into camp amid a wild yell of cheers and a discharge from the battery, which rolled over the plains and across the river into Mexico, announcing that the colonel had won the race. |