The Girl from Hong-Kong: A Story of Adventure Under Five Suns — page 349: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

) THE GIRL FROM HONG-KONG. 343 so low in the saddle that, he is sheltered by the arching neck of his horse. In this way, with a living rampart before him, he urges his plunging steed madly on. Having no human targets at which to fire there is danger lest some of those at bay become demoralized, for the onrushing horses present a rather terrifying spectacle. Terry recognizes the danger, and it is his voice that sounds the alarm. “The horses—shoot the horses first, then the men!’ is what he shouts. Suiting the action to the word, he opens upon the ant mal nearest him. The scene that ensues almost baffles description, with the quick percussion of firearms smiting the air, the shrill screams of wounded horses almost human im their agoniz-- ing distress, the shouts and oaths of men, and back of it all the shrieks of the wretched French: madam, whose hysterics have come on again with the return of the nerv- ous strain. In spite of the hot fusillade kept up by our friends, the advance continues, and almost before one could say “Jack Robinson” the horses are among them, rearing and prancing, while their riders begin to retum the fire to which they have been unwilling targets. There is a pretty lively scene for a time, and the bullets fly in a reckless fashion. Having the advantage of shelter, General Lopez and his strangely assorted “party, representing China, Scot- land, England, Mexico and Yankeedom, manage to win out. Not until Senor Enrique falls, covered with wounds, will the sadly demoralized remnant of his desperado band show the white feather. — The victory is won, and yet dearly bought. Several have wounds—the battlefield looks more like a slaughter pen, with horses and bravos. lying in con- fusion. Terry, as soon as the result is no longer in doubt, starts on a run for the diligence, having seen a figure flying ‘around the bend which he mistakes for Doris ommichooks, conn