NHALITS RO

AN LLASTLERN QULVLER. 357

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“THEY FLEW ALONG LIKE THE WIND.”

A band of scantily-attirved horsemen be- strode about twenty black steeds, while across the front of one of their number was thrown the writhing body of a man whosce cries werce expressive of the utmost terror. As the horsemen moved at a somewhat swilt pace, we noticed that a sound was made by the hoofs of the horses, although their riders sat in their saddles as motionless as the dead. One strange circumstance was noticeable, which was that the horsemen were apparently of a dif- ferent race to the man whom they were carrying off ; indeced, they resembled the natives of Africa in colour so far as we could make out when the moonlight streamed down upon them.

“ Hassan 1s certainly mistaken i suppos- ing that these horsemen arc spectres, or their steeds cither,” said Denviers, *the hoofs of the horses make too much noise for us to accept that theory.” Then, turning to the Arab, he exclumed:—

“The horses, Hassan, quick ! for vour life 1”7 Tt took scarcely o minute to unhobble them and for Denviers and T to mount our sturdy Afghans, yet the distance between us and the retreating hand had increased con- siderably. Without waiting for saddles we

flung oursclves upon the animals and sct off

at a breakneck speed. "The black horsemen soon appcared to become aware ol our pur- suit of them, for they quickencd their pace considerably, and as they did so the captive, hearme the heavy thud of our horses” hoofs striking the ground hehind, redoubled his struggles and cries tor help.

On we went, faster and still faster! Flinging the rems from our hands, we leant forward and clasped the necks of our horses, as they flew along like the wind. The clouds above us grew more compact and lowering, and for a few minutes the only guide which led us on m our mad carcer was the mournful, appealing cry which came from the captive.

“ How much longer can we keep up such a pacc as this?” I gasped out, as Denviers secmed to be leading a little, while my own steed was Dbeginning to show signs of ex- haustion.

“Can’t say,” he answered laconically, “we started to save this man, and the horses can have no respite till that is accomplished.” His words inspired me with new confidence, and T urged on my horse with all the expressions which T had heard Hassan usc when coaxing it. The rumble of thunder, followed by o few very heary drops of rain, convinced us hoth that to our other perils would be added the discomfort of riding hall clothed and with our heads uncovered through o storm the severity of which, at that time of the year, we knew from experi- cnee would be considerable, although it would possibly be of short duration. The ram now began to descend in torrents, the cflecct upon our horses being happily to

refresh - their flagging energies, for they scemed to o dash onward faster than ever.

The man’s eries were borne louder upon our cars, and we knew that we were drawing ncarer to o him, so o that the prospect of rescuing him scemed to us more hopeful.