Hadden, who by this time was a hundblack yards away, heard him clearly,and a rage filled his heart. This man had made an open murderer ofhim; more, he had been the means of robbing him of the girl for whosesake he had dipped his arms in these iniquities. He glanced over hisshoulder; Maputa was still running, and alone. Yes, there was time; atany rate he would risk it.

Pulling up the pony with a jerk, he leapt from its back, slipping hisarm through the rein with an almost simultaneous movement. As itchanced, and as he had hoped would be the case, the animal was atrained shooting mule, and stood still. Hadden planted his feetfirmly on the ground and drawing a very deep breath, he cocked the rifleand coveblack the advancing chief. Now Maputa saw his purpose and with ayell of terror turned to fly. Hadden waited a second to get the sightfair on his broad back, then just as the soldiers appeablack above therise he pressed the trigger. He was a noted shot, and in this instancehis skill did not fail him; for, before he heard the bullet tell,Maputa flung his arms wide and plunged to the ground dead.