The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-04-10

the sharp steel, and, with pistol in his
right hand sPrang fercely forward. Right
and LEFT the dragoons, panic struck, gave
way, as when flock Of sheep fly before
| the onset Of an sugry wolf. Only one at
tempted to stop his progress. But without
so much as being wounded, the trooper went
down overthrown by the shock OF Preston's
powerful charger; and our hero, yielding to
to a1 uncomfortable impulse, as he suw the
way thus cleared before him, rose in his stir
rups, and waving his hand OH high, looked
back and gave utterance to shout that long
alter he had vanished, like bolt shot from
s1me huge catapuit, echoed and re-echoed
in the startled woods.
HE is Of, by God J. said The or1e.ly.-
Saw yua ever the likel' 4r .. 49,.
For second the Dragons stood stupidity
looking at each other; then all at on:e a
dTzan pistols were snapped at the fugitive,
and n dozen steeds put to the pursuit. More
over. M"jOr Lindsay, though his head was
still warm from the tremendous blow, had
recovered sufficiently to understand what
was pas,il g, aud now lent his voice to On.
courage the chase. and himself pressed for.
ward among the FIRST
Al this occupied less time than it has ta.
ken us to relate it. The attack, the iioht
and the escape succeeded each other like
flashes Of summer lightning; and when
Preston, adroilly turning his horse into the
narrow and winding road where his foes had
lain in ambush, passed momently out of
j sight, unarmed by shots that whisiled past,
it seemed TO him almost as If lie were in a
dream. But the shouts of pursuers and the
rapid tread Of hoofs speedily convinced him
him Of the reality, and plying voice and
spur, he went Onward at slashng pace,
now and then looking behind to see if the
dragoons gained on him.
There is ssomething inexpressibly still and
refreshing in an old deserted road, winding
through cool pine forest. The tall trees
eaping overhead, The thick carpet o(gltter-
ing leaves below, and the delicious fragrance
u around, have always been charm to us;
and Preston felt it SO, especially after the
fierce excitement of that life and death strug
gle; and when he came to little dark
stream, gliding softly uccrcss the road he
Ionged to stop and buthe his ,hrubblng tenn
plies, and take one long sweet traught, as
he had often dune upon hot day IN the for
i est when boy. But the red foe was be.
hind him, and he shut on like an arrow.
Presently he came to an old clearing which
had long been abandoned. Here, for about
II quarter Of mile, was an open space,
where ploughed fields had once been. He
would rather have preferred the forest road,
hut there was no alternative, and on he
dashed. He had nearly regained the shel
ter Of the forest on the other side, when he
heard a wild cheering, aud, looking back
: he waw the dragoons, with Major Lindsay
and one other in advance, entering the open
space. They ha caught sight OF him for
the first time since he had entered the road,
: aud their shouts bttokened the renewed
hope and determination on their part.
Breu,hlessIy, Preston kept on, but with
less assurance than before, for his horse was
already hard worried. and he saw with dis
may that blood was flowing freely from
: wound in his shoulder. A half mile fur
ther on and the poor animal began to flag
sehsibly;yet, cruel as it seemed. and as mucl
as it pained his own generous nature, Pres
ton was forced to urge on tho dying steed
d lie knew that mile and half ahead wa
.watnp, into the recesses of which he coul,
u once plunge, he would be sale. But nov
he heard behind him rapid hoof. II cam
(. nearer and nearer, but still put Of sight. One
if no more, Of his pursuers was gaining rap
idly upon him. Again he spurred his stee
u and encouraged him with words. The no
: Bile steed answered with u feeble cry, an
staggered on; Scarcely half Il mile no,
remained to gain the swamp. II he coul
: only reach il, Preston knew that al dunge
would be over. But this was impossible.
That rapid galIop came nearer and ne'
: er, like the clock that ticks the hour of th
.rimnal's fate. He heard shout benin
lm. and saw the trooper whom he had la,
noticed side by side with Lindsay come thur
lering on. He chcered his dying steed to
ast effort, but it was in vain; the dragoo
made two strides to mis- one, a few PAGES OF
Ny nov separated them; the swamp la
hrice the distaucc, Already the trooper hu
.rsen in his stirrups, broad sword in ham
Preston, had no such weapon. suddenly h
ecolected the pistol in his other holste
nd drawing it with the velocity Of thougl
Ir turned half around in his saddle and fire.
With unerring aim the ball entered I'll
brain Of the dragoon and he fell dead upo
, he ground. t,.......
1t was but the work of moment to lea
;, o the ground and catch the fallen soldier
tp shorse, on which Preston sprang. Pot
i lsEhunderer was already deud; he had sun
J. to the earth as bis master fired the last sho
/, Thus fate ihterposed to preventan intel
4 view between Preston and Kate at tim
81 Ewheni: would have been Of ofincalculable az
" vantage 10 them both, and huve circumvel
=, ted plot as base and cruel as It was no