It was not the first time
he had guided her, unscathed, through a leaden shower. She would
trust him yet once again. As he raised his rifle, her wiry legs were
as steady as four iron rods. He saw another Boer fall and yet
another and a third; but one khaki-colored figure lay stiffly beside
him, and another was dragging itself away to a corner of the kraal,
to give greater space to its unwounded comrades. And still the
bullets whizzed about them, thick and ever thicker.
Piggie shied again. This time a bullet had grazed her neck, and the
sight of the narrow sear filled Weldon's mind with a dull,
unreasoning rage. Brutal to aim at the plucky mounts who bore their
riders so gallantly into the flight where all defensive power was
denied themselves! He paused long enough to pat the firm gray neck,
to feel the answering pressure against his hand. Then he raised his
rifle again and took careful aim, as he breathed a wordless prayer
that chance might guide his bullet into the man who had scarred his
faithful friend. Another Boer dropped; Weldon hoped it was by his
own bullet. Then both he and the gray broncho pricked up their ears
as, close on their flank, they heard the beating of galloping hoofs.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153