"Sit tight," he whispered. "I'm goin' to get 'em," and then,
fiercely "for your sake, because I love you--now laugh,"
and he was gone.
He ran lightly down the river bank unnoticed by the
samurai who had already passed the island. In one hand he
bore the long war spear of the head-hunter he had slain. At
his belt hung the long sword of Oda Yorimoto, and in its
holster reposed the revolver of the Count de Cadenet.
Barbara Harding watched him as be forded the river, and
clambered up the opposite bank. She saw him spring rapidly
after the samurai and their prisoners. She saw his spear hand
go up, and then from the deep lungs of the man rose a
savage yell that would have done credit to a whole tribe of
Apaches.
The warriors turned in time to see the heavy spear flying
toward them and then, as he dashed into their midst, Billy
Byrne drew his revolver and fired to right and left. The two
prisoners took advantage of the consternation of their
guards to grapple with them and possess themselves of weapons.
There had been but six samurai in the party, two had fallen
before Byrne's initial onslaught, but the other four, recovered
from their first surprise, turned now to battle with all
the terrific ferocity of their kind.
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