Sevier became a shadow, but the speaker obviously attributed any noise he had heard to the mad plunges of the riderless horse, for he continued: “Hajason can play some folks double, but not me, young woman. Now ye quit that foolishness an’ git up on yer pins, or it’ll be the worse for ye.” Parting some cedar boughs, Sevier beheld Lon Hester. The villain was still wearing his bedraggled cock’s feather and was standing beside his horse and staring evilly at the limp form of Elsie Tonpit, where she lay unconscious after being unseated by her crazed mount. The little drama was clear; the girl had escaped and Hester had pursued and shot her horse. “—— if she ain’t pretty’s a picter,” gloated Hester, his face growing bestial. The girl was alive and Sevier waited. Hester continued, speaking aloud to check off certain data: “I can’t go back to Jonesboro. McGillivray might pay a ransom, an’ he might string me up without even sayin’ thank ye. I reckon I’ll keep her for myself, seein’ as nobody else ’pears to want her.” It was at this point that Sevier noiselessly stepped from cover and quietly informed— “But I want her, Mr. Hester.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XII TONPIT CHANGES HIS PLANS “Chucky Jack!” Hester dully exclaimed. “Drop your gun.” The bully’s readiness to obey convinced Sevier the weapon had not been reloaded since discharged at the girl’s horse. The borderer glided to the girl and kneeled at her side. She breathed. The borderer started to rise, and Hester pulled an ax from the back of his belt and hurled it. Sevier ducked and raised his rifle. The ax smashed against the barrel and knocked it from his grasp. Believing he had Chucky Jack at a great disadvantage, Hester leaped forward, his hands outstretched, his diabolical fingers crooked to claw his opponent’s eyes. Like a cornered rat he knew he must fight as he had never fought before. To save the girl from being trampled upon Sevier stepped over her body without pausing to pick up his rifle. The two crashed together within a few feet of the silent form. Still having the girl in mind, the borderer exerted all his energies to force Hester back. The bully was quick to realize that so long as there was danger of their falling on, or stepping on, the girl Sevier would fight defensively, postponing any attempt to use either of the long knives in his belt. Sevier had not forgotten his weapons, but as Hester was unarmed he was quite willing to meet him barehanded and make him a prisoner. Hester bulked larger than the borderer and had made man-maiming a study. He grunted in relief as Sevier clinched and made no effort to draw a knife. The bully blessed his luck for relegating the contest to the plane of sheer brutality. “I’ve always hankered to git a chance at ye,” he panted, clawing at Sevier’s eyes.