The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-18

glanced out or the wtnd0w-it was still quiet.
cooked tnquiringly at her.
II see n0thlng.n said.
Her hand frightened its clasp.
II can smell the smoke ~ she said. .They have
set the house on frel The sky Is cloudless There
will be no ram this timep'
CHAPTER III.
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
cannot describe the horror TINT came over me at
died in the batIle-but this was too dreadful
ssarey they would not burn us alive!"
The fumes OF the smoke now came strongly on the
ar; Yhe horses raised their heads and snufred sus.
stay here moment' exclaimed. 'Imust 60
She looked as il she would gladly have gone with
me; but she said nothing, and went down the
stairs and through the house to the place whence
came the smell OF burning wood.
They had entered the house and built fire In the
room to the left OF the drawing room. crept for
wall that separated the rooms FROM each other. A
hope had entered my mlnd-a hope that II well
We're they ali tSeres Had they left the other parts
OF the house unguarded?
There were a dozen or them, at least clustering
' mo shower this time" heard one say with
"Yesl and every rat Of Spaniard there Is in itp'
did not stay to hear more; ran back as silently
Painting, reached the room where had left Boa.
Il am going to attack theml" said boldly. "Tney
have no idea how many we are While take up
their attention you must get the horses down and
out the drawing room window. i am quite sure
that every one who Is not disabled is at the other
side OF the house. They are not regulars, you see.
they nave no idea but to pundsr or they would not
se any S sSe to nv side ana
her voice was slightly tremulous as she said
.But yoawyou win be e, In great dangerp'
III only knew that you were not in danger But
your work Is as periloIs as mine. Can you IT."
leve can save but one horse. In that it must
be yours, because yours Is the more powerful"
1 heard the pathetic cadence in her voice;
knew how she loved her beautiful white mare, that
she had tended with her own hands tor many days.
There was no time for words now. could not
even express the anxiety for her safety that was
devou1ng me. might never see her again. !
and press 1t for instant to my heavily throbbing
heart l felt as If Lad known her long. 1t was
not possible that had not been with her twenty
perhaps It is farewell p I said, and. through
the suitry dusk, our eyes met; then was down the
stairs, not daring tot hink OF her.
II l had known the house better might have
taken better position but mad no time to explore.
and crOuched down behind the wall, whose broken
panels gave me iull view Of the room where they
were.
SO in volume that the men were preparing to leave.
They had stayed to see that 1t begun well, that it
could not be easily extinguished.
Up stairs went again, and this time ran through
two large chambers that were over the wing that
had been set on fire. My blood seemed on rre In
them oil and gloated over the destruction.
My two revoI GERS were loaded again. With one
III each hand leaned out OF the window, which
commanded full view Of door and windows
through which they must make their exit.
me blaze made o lur.d glare, that showed their
swart faces plainly to me- while 1t left me in the
shadow.
yhey we're coming out, pausing to look back at
watchful eye about, as If fearing an attack.
Never had man better mark for his firing than
heard-and PRAYED God that she might be sue
cessfnI heard the sound Of horses feet the other
Side the house.
Would she reach that clump OF heavy greenery,
mile away to the south, where she was W await
Hopes and fears ran Wild gaop in my mind.
The men below had fancied they heard SOM
also. Three OF them turned toward that direction
Now was my time. Kneeling by the open window
aimed at the two foremost ones and discharged
both my pistols at once. The two men FELL disabled
at least. AS we had zone at first fire, so now
before moment had passed 10 enable them to de-
term1ne from whence came the Shots fired all my
barrels save one, rescrvlng that Tor the extreme Of
danger.
Throwing myself nat again, loaded my plstos
as quick as could.
Cries OF surprise and pain mingled with The crack
ling OF The danes, that were growing dangerously
higher now.
shouted, IN dreadful rage
Curse you why do you waste your shots like
there, at the most. Let's see them get out-thats
all - ...u
by this time knew that Boadicea must have LETT
the building, and was toerably certain that all the
mafauders were this side | breatned freer though
my position IL could have thought seriously OF IT,
was getting almost hopeless.
They had determined to Keep me in the burning
house.
II only was positive that she was out or i'll
But must fire at them while could. When I
made my final rush from the place, 1t would be well
to nave rs few foes 70 struggle with as possible.
They were retreatlng iust. nad but little chance
to hit any, but fired twice more, taking careful
aim.
defiant laugh was all that answered me- And yet
we must have woandei many OF them, or, rs nearly
as could count, there seemed but seven who fell
back TO watch the flames and to be out OF my range.
But some might nave found Boadicea. The thought
was absolute torture to me- But ! had heard no
shot she would not have surrendered without
struggle. and unless she had fired at the very mo.
ment Of my firing should have heard the report.
Such conclusion had lust come to me when
soitened by short distance, but unmistakaple and
clear, came the sound OF her pistol. 1 knew the
sound from that OF the other pieces.
waited for nothing. | only knew that she was
attacked-that she was alone and against so many
But stlll had little sense Of caution left In my
mates OF the burning house TO try to escape-that
they meant we should but ny from one death 10
names was Inc least gu guarded II could but GoIdy
dash through anu make detour W where hoped
to meet Doadicea!
II was useless 10 try such thing. The leapng
danes would have feed me senseless in a moment
Again snot. / was maddened. 1 sped on aud
III the next instant a shout OF demonlac victory tod
me that had been seen. The balls tel aoou, me-
Why was not hitS ran, with all the speed ros-
sessed, straight on toward where, In the name light
] saw woman on horse, that curyeted and
wheeled beneath lis riders sk,lful hand.
ION, Goa why does she not ride awaygn
That was the thought most full or poignant an
guish Nox was iieeter than any horse ] had ever
known.
ride ride y shoHted as well as my impeded
breath would allow me.
aid not know whether she heard me or not. She
could MAKE no sign. It seemed only by Il miracle
derlu strength and alertness could nave prevented
it--an0 his ider's superb Workmanship. Evidently
the men disKed TO fire on her, Tor trey were at
tempting to catch the bride and unseat her. |
thought should gain ner side. II only also were
on that horses back would defy them all.
An Instant more, was swinging my sword to-
ward the man VINO had Just made u ciutca at the
bride, when furlously gvel blow, lro.a behind,
made me stagger back, ana my brain whlrlcd with
the blow.
was conscious that the two men who were strlv-
Ing TO catch Nox turned at the shout which my as