The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-08-18

uently IN state OF great eAcItemeht, anu
every sense is on the alert, for she looks
back repeatedly, and earnestly through the
looming darkness, and starts nery0usly at
the slightest sound
The foot of the hill is gained. 1t is a
much heavier drag for the mare than had
anticipated; for the road on this part has
lately been gravelled and with vehicle
behind and two persons in it, no animal
can fairly be expected to ascend it at full
trot Suddenly Miss Wintock grasped my
arm. "Listenl They are already on our
track y
turn my head The sharp persuasive
ring of horses hoofs strikes family ON the
ear We are pursued, and by more than
one person. there are at least two on our
trail, and they are following US at full
speed. No doubt the Wintocks have sad
died the extra horse, and will leave untried
no means, fair or FOUL to regain their cap
tive.
The mare tolls and pants as the steep
activity begins to tell upon her powers.
1t is brutal to give her the whip, but it
must be done She must strain every
muscle to the utmost, even though l feel
that | am doing the plucky animal gross
injustice.
We are more than halfway up the hill,
and the remainder is not nearl y so steep;
in fact, simply gentle rise With snort,
a proud toss of her flowing name, and a
loud neigh of defiance, she pricks up her
ears and increases her speed. She has
caught the clatter of the rafting hoofs be-
hind, and with the instinct and emulation
of all spirited animals, is determined not
to be distanced Gallant creature Not
another stroke with the whip, if have to
| fight our battle out on foot on the road.
Indeed, there is no occasion; on gaining
the ridge of the hill she has bolted. The
foam is frothing and dripping in feeces
from her bit; the wheels are whirling with
ferceness that renders us dizzy. | can
hear and feel the strain upon the shafts as
her iron-clad heels dash the sparks from
the fints on the road, and every instant
expect them to snap like rotten tow. Will
the axles hold and the springs stand "?
The friction is enough to make tires and
spokes fly asunder.
The moon is Just rising above the hOri-
ers coming on behind at great pace; one
is considerably in advance of the other
No doubt they are the Wintocks. They
are gaining rapidly upon us. All! the
foremost is Mr.. George. / recognize the
horse, also; it is the swift supple bay he
usually rides, and which is more than
match for the mare at any time, much
more so with vehicle and two persons be-
hind her There is no hel p for it, and We
cannot escape an encounter.
How furiously our pursuers ride George
Wintock is within a hundred yards.
fancy that can see by the light of the
moon that his visage is CHASTITY with pas
sion. [ can see his coadjutor strike the
rowels fiercely into the TANKS of his char
ger, in order to come up with him. The
mare is getting over her pet, and is slack
ening her speed. [ tighten my grasp of
the reins and speak coaxingly to her. She
is under command and we'll in hand. Shall
we pull up at once and do battle? No; we
will hold on till the last minute.
The foremost rider is close upon us; the
second is not far behind. With loud i'm
precautions they shout to us to stop. |
glance at my companion. The cool night
air and the hope of escape have wrought
wonders; the stern, almost fierce light in
those lustrous, dark eyes treasures me.
'Can you take the reins for a minute?''
She stretched out her delicate fingers by
way Of reply.
''Pull evenly and not too tightly. Keep
her in the middle of the road, if you can.
Be cool, and let her go her own pace.
Draw up, or you re dead man.
| turned. George Wintock was within
a yard of me, his hunting whip raised, the
heavy handle about to descend upon my
skull Springing to my feet and balancing
myself as best | might, poised the gig
whip, parrying his blow and keeping him
at bay. Finding that had the longer
weapon, he Immediately changed his tactics
for dastardly mode of attack, of which
no man, let alone sportsman, who is sup
posed to love his horse, could ever possibly
be guilty. Squirting his steed, he rode
past me to the mares head, and raising
himself in the stirrups, aimed a crushing
blow Just behind the ears, intending to fell
her to the ground, in which case we should
in the melee have been at his mercy. 1t
was we'll meant, but at the critical instant
the animal swerved slightly, so as to evade
its full force. 1t was, however, sufficiently
powerful to make her stumble and sink al
most upon her knees. But the rufian had
for once rocked without his host He was
within reach of my whip handle, and, as
the mare rose, |, wrought to pitch Of des
peration by our position, and incensed by
his cowardly and brutal act, swung the
butt-end with resistless sweep, striking him
on the side of the head, breaking the whip
handle into several pieces, and hurting him
headlong against the bank by the roadside.
[ had the satisfaction of seeing his horse
gallop riderless away.
A shrek burst from Miss Wintock, and
[ clutched the reins. 1t was high time,
for the poor mare mad with agony, was
up on her hind legs, fighting with her fore
feet in the air For second it seemed as
if she would topple over; the next she was
staggering from side to side, like drunken
man. Mechanically l drew one of my
small pistols-in my excitement | had till
that moment entirely forgotten them.
"Keep off, sir keep off, as you value
your life /" | shouted to the elder Wintock,
for he was close upon us.
His reply was torrent of imprecations
and threats.
"Give it to me! You attend to the
mare" cried the heroic girl, as she snatched
the pistol from my hand. II know how to
use it, and will not be retaken alivel"
In truth, there was full occupation for
both my hands, as momentarily [ expected
the poor animal to fall in her furry. 1t
was as much as l could do to keep her on
her legs.
Encountered with the mare, there was
no chance of defending myself in the gig.