The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-05-31

a bitter cry from the child; and nv
blood boiled in my veins.
/ could not sleep that night. Marty
Marriott's pitiful face, with its sad, en-
treating ewes, for forever looking into
mine. / tossed and tumbIed, sat up.
poked the fire, lay down again, and
what? Did | dream2 Was it a ghost !?
Something came softly, swiftly through
the tall grass-a phantom, a shadow
under the dark purple, starry sky, and
almost touched me as | Law with the
blood slowly freezing in my veins.
g Please get up; please wake up, Mr.
Ransom" and the faint voice was shaken
with bitter sobbing; like the sob of the
wind on a gusty autumn night. "Please
do wake up and take me awayr'
Miner was on his feet, though sIeepiIy.
as | caught the poor little, shiyering fig
ure, and felt it to be indeed flesh and
blood Over the wide, dark prairie slope
she had followed our campfire alone
the pitifui little child-with only God
and the angels to care for her.
What Is it my little girl? tell me-
''Do take me away-please do take me
away. / shall die if you don't take me
to my mamma"
How did you come here with him?''
said Herrics.
:" He stole me in the night and made
me stay asleep; and he will kill me. !
don't dare to 90 back"
Up with yer duds, Herries; saddle
up, boys whispered Miner, hoarsely.
" Wen take the child an clear out. |
can't stand this, you know. Lively.
bows"
IN about ten minutes the horses were
saddled, and we rode swiftly through
the timber. Marley before me, wrapped
in my blanket. | shall never forget that
ride. Miner led-he knew the country
and Hcrries brought up the rear. The
stars glinted, the damp night breeze
blew in our faces; the horses never
broke their gallop for miles and miles
over the dark, amending, rolling prairie.
By and by the east turned gray, the west
darker; a long, pale streak of yellow
trimmed the far-lying swells. 1t turned
rosy; crimson streaks shot up; the stars
paled and vanishcd-it was day.
Tired, my dear?'' for she leaned her
head weariiy against me-
"a Eltle, little bit. Only don't stop
don't stop yet. We are not yet far
enough away"
Miner turned and shot an incompre-
hensiblc glance over his shoulder with
out speaking. | understood. George
Marriott had stolen the child to torment
his wife, and it was quite probable that
he would move heaven and earth for her
recovery. He knew me for friend of
Emma's
"There's some pretty rough places be-
tween here and civilization" said Miner,
an hour later when we had halted for
rest, and the child was asleep. "Ef he
kin git an inkling of our route, there's
ways enough to hinder US. We're only
three. Just row it's nearest to Xavier
station, and then to Austin. But we
won't go there, as he'll nat rally think
we will. If the law has judged the chill
dren to his wife, he'll keep out of reach
of the law-don't you see? Conse-
qucntly, we'll git round back ards to
Montresa-you don't know it; it's a
dirty little Mexican place-then twenty
miles Iurther to-hollo"
\ peculiar echo resounded from the
rocky mouth Of the pass where we had
camped. We were on the verge of a
mountainous region; had struck west
ward from our original trail.
81 rather guess-hold on. =" said
Miner. Saddle up, boys, before you
wake her. | didn't camp in this here
place for nothin' This echo's good
warnin', as Eve found out afore; an
these rocks don't tell no tales. I'm
goin' ter reconnoitre." And he darted
away, and was back before we had COM
pleted our hasty preparation for de-
parture.
Jest 50. They're in sight. A bit
puzzled-halted to consider" He was
out of breath, and shot forth these ir-
regular sentences in the intervals of sad
ding up. "Now, then, don't let on
about 'em to her, We know. Wake her
up, RATE. Times out"
Marty looked frightened and chung to
me as | lifted her. | smiled into her
face.
Odd | startlc you?" | asked. ats
time to move on, you see, so | thought
we had better not delay. Hold fast"
L sprang to Chevcignac's back, and
We rode down the dark, rocky dctiIc
slowly at first, lest the sound of hoofs
should by any means reach the sharp
ears of our pursuers. After some ff-
teen minutes we seemed plunging into
4 narrow gorge or chasm, without out
let, between perpendicular precipices.
We followed Miner, who led the wav.
But it seemed narrow, tortuous way.
Il say said Herries at length, ado
you mean to be like mice in trap? For
we re in one,
9 No We amt, young man. know
this here region" retorted Miner, with
out looking round.
Sure enough, ut the end of the gorge.
a narrow aperture, barely admitting a
horse and rider, yawncd beside a huge
boulder. 1t looked like the entrance to
a cavern; and Cheveignac pricked up
dubious ears as he followed Miners roam
into the darkness. For few
all objects were indistinguish
able. Looking up | saw narrow white
Inc drawn ut an incalculable height
across the blackness above us 1t was
the sky. Our horses feet on the hard
rock alone broke the silence. Presently
a iaint white glow appeared In broaden
ma brighten before and around u.s.. The
white line became broad strip, and the
clitt SUBMITS were lower and further
apart.
Now then, pick up your feet, Jock"
observed Miner to his horse, and added
over his shoulder, g Come ahead at your
best. We've no time to lose"
And strange, hollow echoes of hurving
hoofs went flying down the pass.
Well, We batfled them that time..and
in due course came to Montresa, where
we put up for night at dirty little
inn. Marty WAS worn out, and the
horses needed rest. We felt secure from
pursuit. Next morning we were to
resume our journey.
The horses were saddled in the dirty
little courtyard. We stood by them set
Ting with the innkeeper. There seemed
to be 4 number of men lounging about.
There were coarse red curtains drawn
at one front window of the low, ramb-
ling building, and Herries happened to
remark on the fact.
An American lady. senores. who is