He was just as determined to carry her off as he was wishful to accomplish the capture without inflicting injury.
The stripling astride the good warhorse--who seemed to scent battle in the air, and stood perfectly still, quivering with excitement--unslung his handgun from his shoulder, and levelled it at the leader of the band.

The next instant a sharp report rang through the silent forest.

The robber chief flung up his hands with a stifled cry and sank down upon the ground; whilst the other men, astonished beyond measure at this sudden attack from they knew not what quarter, ceased to heed their prisoner, and turned round with loud execrations, laying their hands upon their weapons.
But before they had time to draw these the horseman was upon them.
He had his battle-axe in his hand--a light small axe, but one of exquisite temper and workmanship--and dashing through the group, he dealt such a blow with it upon the head of one of the ruffians as cleft his skull in two; and the man dropped with never a groan, a dead corpse upon the ground.
"Two done for," quoth the youth to himself as he wheeled about for a second encounter.

"Well, a mounted man should be a match for two on foot.
"Ha! what is that ?" for even as he spoke he felt a sharp, stinging pain in one shoulder, and simultaneously the report of firearms rang out once more.

His adversaries had not been slow to avenge the death of their comrade, and their aim was as true as his own.