The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-12
OUR DOUBLE RIDE.
RY E. V. BLAKE.

over gray sea. "A lOuS, "0o ooA0oon
Of shell-strewn sand curvilg below
high sandy bluffs, down whose abrupt
face a zigzag pathway descended from
the plains above. | took no trouble to
dismount. Cheveignac climbed like a
cat, and so | kept bis back as best
could during the descent. /
81 say, Ralf, you'll go over his head
if you keep on in that 1ashlon' saiu
Herries from the bluff.
''Not |.
slip, slide. rush Of yielding
sand. and Cheveignac taking things
easy in sitting posture.
stNever you mind, my boy; my horse
and are one, Centaur fashion, and we
are certain to come out right side up. .
A whisk, scamper, a bound down
the last slope, supplemented my re-
mark, and my black trotted. head up,
for the breakers.
Now If there was one thing for
which Cheveignac had mania. it was
saltwater bathing and stood at that
moment fair chance of being well
ducked. Herries laughed and followed
from the bluff. and used all my au-
thority in vain. Cheveignac had not
achieved perfect training he had MS
freaks of wilfulness quite like the hui
man beings of his acquaintance.
twas directly made manifest that
must dismount or be carried into the
breakers. got my feet out OF the
stirrups in haste, rolled over his tall,
and landed waste deep in froth ana
foam.
heard Herries' scream of laughter
as he paused half way down the path
holding his horses bride. Fatal ex-
ultation! The next moment brown
Meg's feet slipped from under her. A
great rush of sand overwhelmed blped
and quadruped; struggling, kicking,
and half smothered they rolled togeth-
er to the foot of the bluffs.
Herries got up with sand IN his
boots, down his back, up his sleeves,
in his hair, eyes, nose and mouth. L
splashed my way out on to the beach
and laughed in my turn at brown Meg
and her master, who emitted IN con-
cert sundry indescribable noises be-
tween a cough and sneeze.
"Well, my fine fellow, when you
have recovered gravity we will re.
sumo our journey. Precious nonsense!
added Herries, "tO come down mere al
all. We might have skirted the bluffs
at a respectable distance and not cut
all these antics.
"And gone three miles round Coz
ham Gully-since we cOuldnt ny
across! Pshaw, man; you're not hurt
and Eve the worst of the bargain, aftel
all. Now to get round Helmet ROcl
before the tide turns.
whistled to Cheveignac, who came
shoreward roaring and plunging lk
some black sea monster. He was drip
ping wet, but the lower part of m.
BODY quite agreed with him,so spran!
to the saddle and cared naught. W.
rode seaWard down the long, marrow
promontory round the base of Hell
met Rock, which was only passabl
at low water. The rock itself ros
sheer eighty feet from the sand, AM
intersected the smooth stretch o
beach that lay between us and the car
i'm of frOntiersman named NlXOI
where we hoped to find accommodating
for the night. Neither of us knew tn
wav. save as directed by an old mine
at CalSaba.
Cheveignac, taking superb stride
around the corner of the rock, an
breathing additional exhilaration i
every breath of the wild sea wind,ver
nearly ran over tall man standing o
the narrow way and scanning the hor
zon with face of painful anxiety.
refined up, apologized, and inquire
if the strangers name was Nixon; IL
Isaw, not two hundred yards away,
long, low cabin in the shelter of hug
rock. He said it was, and in one sharl
comprehensive glance of scrutiny toe
lis and our animals in from head
heel.
ssCan you accommodate us with foe
and shelter tonight :" Nixon pause'
..You're from New England, he o
served, more in a fashion Of a RENAL
than question. And he thrust b
hands in his pockets and appeared
consider.
eyes; old Massachusetts,, said l,
bit puzzled at him.
1901 Same state myself. Hahn
seen it since was knee-high to gras
hopper. Wish was there now but
don't nos you can tie up with me.
"Why?" srid Herries and | tOget
er. Hospitality was the prevaili
virtue of his class.
danger" answered Nixon. signl
cantly.
s'Poh, man. Do we look as il
feared danger! Give us some bac
and potatoes, and We'll face any reas6
able danger that any man may. a
live. Supper at least, if not shelter
ssJest as you say" said Nixon ind
ferently. .'On'yl remember l warn
you,'' aud he led the way at dog t.
along the beach.
The bacon and potatoes were for
coming, and disappeared in marv
Gus fashion before our savage ons
While our host attended to our hors
we found leisure to look about
The cabin was an unusually roOmy o.
at least eighteen by twenty. The U
al accoutrements of a hunter and Il
erman were placed about. There
evidence of a woman's presence
taste but we had seen no woman.
kind of uncomfortable stiffness rel
ed broken only nv the c00SoloSS roll