.

HOT QUARTERS.
The contest of Simpson with the wonderfully supple and sinewy Apache began and ended in a few seconds.

In the most thrilling moments the hunter did not forget his peril from outside barbarians.
The main war-party seeing the desperate straits of their leader, who was liable to be shot down by a ball from the revolver, galloped forward to his assistance, and, almost at the same moment the dozen horsemen that had set out to head him off put in appearance, all coming from different directions, and converging toward the one point, where the veteran borderer was suddenly transformed from an aggressor into a deeply imperiled fugitive.
It was a time for "business" of the sternest kind, and the grizzled hunter went at it like one who understood what it meant.

Rifle and pistol were discharged, and, therefore, useless.

The former was slung over his back, and the latter was quickly jammed into his girdle.