Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-27
Alefauoria 6ax&tte
WEDNESDAY EvENG., FEBRUARY q.
A Ride for Life.

| knew it would not be long ere We should be
hotly pursued; for as we ratified over the wide
plain could hear tremendous uproar in the
| rebel camp, which was by this time thoroughly
| alarmed. Casting hurried look behind me, l.
could sec that my worst anticipations were re-
| allied. Already dozen or two OF the rebels
had leaped upon their horses, and saber IL
hand, with wild shouts and gestures. were urg-
| ing them on at their utmost speed as they
strove to gain upon us. A ride for dear hfe'
thought l, as l caught sight of them, stream
ing after u.s. Faster and faster yet, l led the
way, over rough ground RHd smooth, looking
we'll to the ground in front las fall or stumble
to one of our horses might have proved fata'
to us), aud my two men kept close oeslde me.
Our horses, however, had been out for hours,
while those of our pursuers were quite ffesn'
1--WE must separate, -" said I, quickly. Ride
of to the right, and I will go straight ou,' as
l thought by thus separating We might, per,
haps, divert our pursuers, and one or other or
US have ia chance of getting of. They imme:
diatey turned off to tho right though Still
beading for the village
This ruse was fortunate enough TOR my mon,
but it did not avail much for me. Casting an
other glance behind me, saw, to my dlsmay,
that our enemies did not appear to trouble
themselves at all about my companions, but al
four,of them continued to ride without swerVlng,
after me; for it was, as l mig ht have antlcl:
psted the English officer whom they had
marked for their prey, and whom they were
thirsting to kill. Closer and closer they creep
up to me; but now urge my horse on, and
manage to forge 9 little ahead. at TINS ratio:
thought I, they will soon pump their horses, II
hesdlong pace, and I am forced to let out my
horse also to his utmost speed in order to Keep
shesd of them. Already the foremost OF the
four is less than hundred yards behind me-
the other three close behind him, while there
are dozen more short distance behind them.
ed since that ,dsy, it makes my blood jumpto
think of it. For moment my heart dies
within me. q, I feel that the game is up; and l
set my teeth and determine to die hard-to sell
my life IS dearly as I csn' and light it out TO the
last
not looked before me; but now suddenly saw,
just thirty or forty yards ahead of me, the dixie
full of water, which We had passed over IN Inc
early morning 10 reconnolter the camp.
thrill Of hope and JOY passed through me: II
wsy for good horse; and I knew that mine,
who was good fencer, would clear it, and tha:
there was q very good chance that the horses Of
nv pursuers would not, as natives seldom prac.
tice their horses at jumping. They seemed
hardly more than fifty or sixty yards OF, and,
had it not been for the hope of placing the dixie
between myself and them, felt that in another
few moments. if they had got much nearer,
should have been forced to turn at bay and ngnt
it out to the last. Four to one, however, was
hopeless odds, and with ray OF hope rode
straight to the dixie. Even then. as nesred 1t,
the thought flashed with terrible 1nisglving
through my brain that my horse might, perhsps,
refuse it, and that in that case my pursuers
would be upon me in moment.
Deadly as is the peril in which am, nave
vet the GOODNESS and presence OF mind to steady
nv horse somewhat as he comes up to the leap,
and for 9 moment to Glacken his speed. Ny
gallant horse, big powerful Australian geld
ing, sets his cars he secs the leap IN iron. OF
him; and when at the critical moment dig
nv spurs into him with all the energy OF des'
perstion, he answers to the call, takes OH we'll,
and lands clearly, despite somewhat rotten
bank, on the other side. Once more
look back Full twenty of my foes are on the
brink, but as far ss can ma ke out not one OF
them is over as yet. Another two hundred
yards are passed, when l SEQ that halt-h.dozen
of them have at length got over. and are follow,
ing me up as before with frantic haste, and
doing their best to make up the ground they
have lost. On they come, but have got such
start that they do not gain on me much before 1
reach the village, and am lost for time to their
view.-An English officers experience IN Iadta.