He could not see the Indian's body; could see only half his leg, hooked over the pony's back. All that he might do was to strike at the arrow; then he dodged back. Up rose the Indian; out popped the captain. Down sank the Indian; back dodged the captain. Up rose the Indian; out popped the captain. Down sank the Indian--up he rose and "Bang!!" spoke the captain's navy six-shooter. It was a chance shot, but the bullet tore through the Indian's heart, and dropping the halter, he toppled, dead.
"I've killed one of 'em, Hallowell!" cheered the captain, excitedly.
"Hurrah! Bully for you! Hi! Yip! Yip!" And--"Whack! Whack!"
He never quit driving, not Lieutenant Hallowell!
The Indians had halted, to examine their dead warrior, and yell over him.
"Gwan! Yip! Gwan with you!" urged the lieutenant, trying to squeeze more speed out of the lathered mules.
Captain Booth sat on the cracker-box, watching through the pucker-hole. Had the Indians given up?
"Cap! Quick! Here! Right off to the left!" That was the lieutenant. The captain whirled about; he saw a lone Indian racing close to the fore end of the wagon, aiming an arrow at Lieutenant Hallowell. There was no time to change position for a clear shot.
"Hit him with your whip! Hurry up! Hit him!"
The lieutenant flung the lash sideways, instead of over the mules. The knot of the cracker must have caught the Indian in an eye, for he lost his bow, clapped both hands to his face and scurried away, howling.
"Good shot! Hi! Yip! Betty! Joe! Gwan with you!"
"All right. Guess we'll make it. Hi! Yip!" And--"Whack! Whack!"
Yes, the Indians were coming. In a minute they had overhauled the wagon, bombarding it with arrows as they passed on both sides. Captain Booth turned around on his box, to watch them through the front end. He did not know that his body bulged the wagon-sheet cover.
The captain started to rise; could not get up. He was pinned fast to the canvas, by an arrow. But he wrenched free--never felt his wound and hurried to the lieutenant.
Sure enough. The feathered tip of an arrow was sticking out from under the slat of the seat-back behind the lieutenant. The captain pulled at it, the lieutenant squirmed.
"Some. No matter. Pull it out. Hi! Gwan! Yip!"