Another moment and he had pulled
himself over the edge and the girl leaped to the ground. The Texan had
not followed to the top but had halted his horse at the edge of the
water that was mounting steadily higher. Bat swung in with his pack
horse and with his quirt Tex forced them up the embankment. Endicott's
horse was all but swimming. The water came above the man's knees as
the animal fought for footing. The Texan leaned far out and, grasping
the bridle, drew him in to the bank and quirted him to the top. Then,
as the three watched, he headed his own horse upward. Scarcely had the
animal come clear of the water when the eager watchers saw that
something was wrong.
"De cinch--she bus'!" cried the half-breed excitedly. "Dat dam' Purdy
cut de cinch an' A'm trade Tex mine for ride de outlaw, an' we trade
back. _Voila_!" As the man talked, he jerked the coiled rope from his
saddle and rushed to the edge. Alice, too, crowded to the bank, her
hands tight clenched as she saw the man, the saddle gone from under
him, clinging desperately to the bridle reins, his body awash in the
black waters. Saw also that his weight on the horse's head was causing
the animal to quit the straight climb and to plunge and turn
erratically. It was evident that both horse and rider must be hurled
into the flood.
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