Page:Edward Ellis--Alden the Pony Express Rider.djvu/211

 minutes later shifting the two guns to his left hand, reached his right around to grasp the shaft of the arrow and draw it forth.

To his amazement he could not feel it. He was able to grope with the hand, from between his shoulder blades to the saddle. Especially the spot where the twinge had been felt was examined. He touched naught but the smooth back of his coat.

“It must have drapped out,” he muttered with a wild hope; “dat’s mighty qu’ar,” he added; “de pain ain’t dere any more but has gone inter de big toe ob my right fut.”

In his whimsical mood he glanced down at the shoe in the stirrup. Nothing was the matter there.

“I hain’t been hit at all!” he exclaimed with a new thrill this time of unalloyed bliss; “it must hab been de rheumatics dat shifted to my toe.”

Certain it was that he had not been so much as grazed by any of the arrows that the prowling redskins had discharged at him.

Ten minutes later as he swept round another turn in the gorge, he saw Shagbark riding a little way in front of the train. Inasmuch as the emigrants and Jethro were