"Whip up, Higgins, and we'll leave him so far behind he'll never catch
us," cried Crosby eagerly. The first drops of rain began to fall and
Mrs. Delancy hurriedly crawled beneath the tarpaulin, urging him to
follow at once. Another flash of lightning revealed the deputy, far back
in the road waving his hands frantically.
"I'm glad his neck isn't broken. Hurry on, Mr. Higgins; it is now more
urgent than ever that you save your bacon."
'"Tain't very comfortable ridin' for Mrs. Delancy," apologized Higgins,
his horses in a lope.
"If the marshal asks you why you didn't stop and help his deputy, just
tell him that the desperado held a pistol at your head and commanded you
to drive like the devil. Holy mackerel, here comes the deluge!"
An instant later he was under the tarpaulin, crouching beside his fellow
fugitive. Conversation was impossible, so great was the noise of the
rain-storm and the rattle of the wagon over the hard pike. He did his
best to protect her from the jars and bumps incident to the leaping and
jolting of the wagon, and both were filled with rejoicing when Higgins
shouted "Whoa!" to the horses and brought the wild ride to an end.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71