I doubt if they wish to harm
your highness, but they certainly would fire to hit in
self-defense."
The girl lowered the firearm. "I am becoming perfectly
bloodthirsty," she said, "but it makes me furious to be hunted like
a wild animal in my native land, and by the command of my king, at
that. And to think that you who placed him upon his throne, you who
have risked your life many times for him, will find no protection at
his hands should you be captured is maddening. Ach, Gott, if I were
a man!"
"I thank God that you are not, your highness," returned Barney
fervently.
Gently she laid her hand upon his where it gripped the steering
wheel.
"No," she said, "I was wrong--I do not need to be a man while there
still be such men as you, my friend; but I would that I were not the
unhappy woman whom Fate had bound to an ingrate king--to a miserable
coward!"
They had reached the grade at last, and the motor was straining to
the Herculean task imposed upon it.
Grinding and grating in second speed the car toiled upward through
the clinging sand. The pace was snail-like. Behind, the horsemen
were gaining rapidly. The labored breathing of their mounts was
audible even above the noise of the motor, so close were they. The
top of the ascent lay but a few yards ahead, and the pursuers were
but a few yards behind.
"Halt!" came from behind, and then a shot.
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