The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-11-06

me roughly by the arm. ave will talk ns
we saddle the horse; moments are dearcr
than gold. Come, comep
tarried only long enough to snatch up
my cap and pistols, and then hurried after
my friend, who had already reached the
spot where our horses stood; then, as we
rapidly bridled and saddled the trusty steeds
who had borne US for many and many a
mile, he told me that which made my eyes
flash and my blood boil.
al was awakened early in'the night" he
said, " by feeling something cast over my
head, so that could not utter u sound, and
then, in spite of MY struggles, was bound
hand and foot. There were two men--I
knew their Yoices-one was our drivers
and, Harry, the other was John Bartons /
l saw him, too, he was the man who Joined
the train few days ago; that heavy beard
was a disguise They left me lying there
helpless, and crept to the other end of the
wagon, where the partition hid them from
my sight. But, oh, Harry heard Mary's
halfstilled shrek heard them lift her to
the ground, and heard the horses moving
away cautiously in the darkness. And
lay there like a log, boy, suffering torments,
knowing that villains were stealing away
my child, and that every moment added to
their safety, while could not even give the
alarm, till the train-master came at daylight
to rouse me up. They have taken our best
wagon horses, but these good fellows Of ours
are swiiter and better beasts than they, and
though they have hours the start, well over
haul them yet. Cheer up, Harry; this is no
time for a faint heart.
Heart-sick, crushed and Mortified, yet
stretched out my hand and grasred that my
friend held out to me, as earnest Of my de-
termination to pursue, even to the death.
"Thank Cod" exclaimed thank God
that we have two such good horses to carry
us, aud such faithful, trusty dog as Rover
to guide usl We should be helpless indeed
without our dumb triends!"
"Thank Col for them,' Mr.. Scott echoed
"And now, here comes the train master with
my saddle bags filled with provisions; they
may be needed"
Five minutes more, and we galloped away
from the camp, with many good wish and
expression of sympathy.
Had there been any horses there able to
keep pace with our own thoroughbreds, we
had not lacked company IN our wild ride
over the short turf of the prairies-short, for
not long before fire had swept over the
plains and burnt off the tall grasses, and the
new growth was just springing up, thick and
velvet like.
On and on we galloped, not in swift,
transient bursts, wearying alike TO man and
beast, but in long, steady leaps, such as
"spend, but waste not !" and Rover, faith
tul friend, unerring gnide, galloped on be
fore, turning neither to the right nor to the
left. Well he knew that his mission was a
grave and noble eue-wel he knew that
work, not play, was before him, and that it
behooved him to be careful ol his strength.
And so, all through the hot, sultry day,
we sped on and on, man and horse and dog,
without pause, or rest, or falter, until, Just
AS the sun was sinking low in the west, our
faithful guide halted, and for the first time
that day barked and gamboled, aud then
came rushing toward us, and laid at our feet
a woman's (Mary's) glovel
And then our pent-up excitement broke
forth in shout of eXultation, for we now
knew beyond doubt that we were on the
| right track. Not that we had for moment
distrusted Royer's sagacity; but it was some
thing to have a proof tangible to our own
inferior senses.
snatched up the precious token, and,
pressing it to my lips, felt the blood surge
up into my face as a paper rustled inside
in second held little penried note in
my trembling hand-just few lines, in
the characters knew and loved as we'll. 1t
read
"FATHER-HARRY John Barton has not
forgotten his oath. know you will follow
| closely. Your horses are good, and Rover
| VIII guide you, so | keep up courage.
write this hidden behind the horses, which
are lying down exhausted while Barton and
our treacherous driver are digging a hole "a
&c, water for them. shall place this in my
glove, feeling sure that Rover will find it,
Have no fear for me if there is need, my
poniard will defend me, but you will find
me before that"
Together we read the priceless little note
over and over-Marys father and /.
"God bless her !" he exclaimed. my
brave girl"
And then--I am not ashamed to confess
tour tears fell together on the brief lines
her dear hand had traced.
But there was no time for the indulgence
Of sentiment, only for action-stern, speedy
action, Looking up from the little scrap 0
paper in our hands, we saw that Rover anr
our poor foam fecked horses had found tn,
hole dug by the fugitives, and were drink
ing in huge draughts of the clear, pur,
water, that their labor had provided for ou
, refreshment.
1t must have cost them at least thre
hours hard work, without implements a
they were, and that was so much clear gail
to us-a gain of time and gain of water
without which our own sturdy animals coul,
not have pushed on much longer.
We allowed them to crop the short gras
for half an hour, that they might start will
} renewed vigor and we, too, needed thi
short rest and such re!reshment as we coul
force ourselves to swallow but scarce wa
, the half hour passed, than We were thunder
ing over the prairies again.
? The country was no longer the dead lev,
, that it had been at the start 1t was in spot
! rough and broken, and before us we coul
. see the thick haze that betokened the va.
masses Of the Rocky Mountains looming u
p towards the sky.
Little hills and hollows crossed our head
e lone uath rocks, large amt small, sing.