XII
An unexpected guide
The unfortunate Esther had been garroted in the saddle of Osse'o's white horse, so that she had only her hands free; she could not, moreover, make any movement, much less think of running away, so long as Black Eagle stood in the saddle behind her.
But as soon as the Mormon chief had shot the savage with a pistol, the brave girl, without losing a second, had the presence of mind to let go the reins of her mount and to flee at a triple gallop.
In the heat of the action, no one noticed her escape. As soon as she was some distance away she stopped beside a rock bristling with sharp pebbles, by means of which she managed to break her bonds. Free then of her movements, she made her way towards the plain, calculating with great accuracy that she had a chance of meetin
