Princess Zara

It was just breaking day as I approached the house, and I could see

that a light was burning in the room where I had left her. I decided at

once that she had determined to remain in that room, and had probably

not thought of retiring. I could not criticise such a reluctance, under

the circumstances; and while I was congratulating myself upon the fact

that she would not have to pass such another night as this one, I saw

the front door swing suddenly open, and the form of a woman in whom I

instantly recognized Zara, ran down the steps and leaped into a waiting

droshka, which had hitherto escaped my notice. Instantly the horses

started away at a gallop. I was two hundred feet distant. There was not

a person in sight, for Coyle, believing, doubtless, that all danger was

past, had withdrawn his guard.

There are times in our lives when peril, in threatening a loved one,

brings out the best there is in a man, and renders him suddenly capable

of coping with any emergency. I knew of but one way to stop those

horses, and I used it. Always a good shot, I drew my revolver, aimed it

at the nearest horse, and pulled the trigger. Then, before the sound of

the first report had lost itself along the street, I fired again. One

of the horses pitched forward, shot through the brain, I knew; the

other fell upon the first, and I ran forward at all speed, towards the

wrecked and overturned droshka.