But the villain was not yet to his last card. His mind was keenly alive to the situation, and he lost no points in the game. “Not yet, Bill Cody--not yet!” he shrieked, and with a single thrust of his paddle, turned the canoe’s nose toward the island. “Hold, or I fire!” cried the scout, raising his weapon and drawing bead upon the bandit. Boyd Bennett drove the canoe into the rocky ledge which masked the end of the island. Like paper the frail craft tore apart, and both he and the girl were flung into the stream. Buffalo Bill’s bullet flew wide of its mark that time! White Antelope was in as much danger as the bandit--perhaps more--for the scout did not know whether the girl could swim or not, and the current was still quite swift and the water deep. But White Antelope soon showed what she could do in the river. Cold as the water was, the instant she came to the surface and saw Boyd Bennett’s arms stretched out for her, she threw herself backward and dove again to the bottom of the river! With a yell the bandit flung himself after her, and again just missed the scout’s bullet. The scoundrel seemed to bear a charmed life. Buffalo Bill was unable to hit him. Although they were man to man at last, it was a question still who would come out winner in the game. CHAPTER XLIV. THE FIGHT TO GAIN THE ISLAND. White Antelope sank to the bottom of the river; then, unlike ordinary swimmers, she did not move in a straight line, but shot off at a sharp angle, and endeavored to make the shore where Cody was, while still under water. But Boyd Bennett was quite as cunning. He cut across her path, and, as the girl came shooting in a long slant to the surface of the river, he reached and caught her by the shoulder. White Antelope screamed and sought to wrench herself away. Cody had flung aside his rifle and urged Chief down into the stream. The white horse was already belly deep in the flood, picking his way intelligently, while his master, rope in hand, prepared to fling the loop to the Indian maiden. But before Cody could make the cast, Bennett had grabbed the girl and thrust her under the surface again. White Antelope went down gurgling, and the cruel hand of the bandit chief held her fast. With an oath the scout seized a revolver and aimed at the black, sleek head of the scoundrel. “Hold your fire, Bill Cody!” cried the bandit again. “Hold your fire, or I’ll drown this girl--as sure as you live, I will! She’s mine, and, by Heaven, you sha’n’t take her from me--unless it’s her dead body!” “You devil, you!” roared the scout. “You are drowning her!” “I surely will if you don’t put up your gun!” “Let her up!” “Put away your gun!” The scout was obliged to do so. If he shot the scoundrel the latter might sink, his clutch still upon the White Antelope, and neither of them rise again until the breath had left both their bodies!