The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-07

nm as We'll as IL they had Deen ac-
quainted for years
You are Il clever Young fellow" said
she: lit is a disgrace such power of
adaptation should lie thrown away. II
comes of being an Engiishman-sO stiff
and so ssarcheI YOU all are. In any
other country you would have had a
career. You would be rich man as
we'll as clever one. For example-it
is not the soldier who becomes rich in
war. All the plumber goes somewhere
but where? Yet it can not 90 into
the air.
Are YOU not tired. Countess?" he
asked. And are you sot hungry,
too?"
''Oh, no. Are gen, then? We will
rest if you are: but
He was ashamed to be beaten by q
woman. And so they rode on till dark
ness fell around them, and in the great
silence of night the flow of the river
could be heard. For they kept close by
that, as their only guide. We'll, she
must give in at last thought Dick, too
hard set for even such slight love-mak-
ing as Countess might have allowed
from trooper. But he never wished
he had never met her-the ride was be-
ginning 10 feel like dream.
Look theren'
They had issued from dry water
course; and it was Dick who saw, some
three hundred yards or SO in front, a
dull red glow.
'Hushr' whispered she. Not so
loud. A campfire; but French, or
Spanish, or nglish-who can say?"
"Harkr'
..All's wellr' was the welcome chant
that greeted Dicks hungry ears. And
never had those good words j gIadder
ring.
IAN English outpost" said he; ''may
be the English lines. We're all right
now. BY the Lord Harry, believe I'm
the luckiest dog unhungn'
Hush, my friendl can not ride
into the English lines; all alone as am.
| dare not 90 among those rough men.
/ trust gOu: but trust none else in the
whole wide world. | shall be a pris-
oner; and you, too. | must find Gen
cral Cuesta tonight. if tonight he is to
be found. | have no papers-no pass,
remember; and | will not risk what
may come of that again. 1t is simple
for YOU. You are straye1 from the
Spanish lines, and have lost your way.
You will get put in the road. Then you
VIII join me here and we will 90 on.
Oh, / Go not mind being left alone. My
whole life is alone. If they give you
food, take it; for can well believe you
must be hungry, my poor friend! You
have not Your own heart to eat, like me.
All, it is good have an Eng,ishman at
my side! You may seek that fire with
out fear
And if your General is still miles
away?"
Then we will see. When you have
found out everything We shall know
what to do"
The lady had by this time so completely
taken the command; and besides, this
time she had reason on her side. 1t
would have seemed, no doubt, a queer
business for a lady TO be riding into the
British camp at midnight, escorted by
an Anglo Portuguese. with 10 better ac-
count to give of themselves than that
he, for lady's sake, was absent from
his corps with nothing better than
French leave. 1t would certainly be
better if she could get at once 20 the
Spanish lines, quietly, where the Cen
cral-in-chief was her friend and would
and would set everything
right for Dick himself besides.
SO, leaving the Countess at the mouth
of the water-courSe, he rode up towards
the fire, round which some score of
British soldiers were di-
vidcl between talking and snoring.
Having answered the challenge to the
best of his power, to the effect of his
he was brought to repeat
them to a sleepy subaltern, who Snubbed
him sharply. for fool. but showed no
make Dick Blackthorn look like any
but the most honest of Englishmen;
while an Englishman in that coat could
be worth no special care. go to your
bcggarly Spaniarls. as King George
isn't good enough for you, said the
lad in command OF the outpost Fol
low the river and your nose, and you'll
find EN- in a couple of miles-behind
their barracks. You'll have to fight in
the open if you stay here
Dick, having had his dismissal, would
have returned ut once to the lady, with
the good news that she had but u
coupla miles more 10 ride, when it
might have been twenty for aught he
knew. But there was an iron pot over
the fire that gave forth fumes we'll
nigh as tempting rs the glances OF
black eyes.
Said he, to the man who had taken
him in charge:
Mate, did you ever 90 forty-eight
hours on half an ounce of goats milk
chalk; can't call it cheese"
Ibid |? Didn't |, YOU mean. What
chance has an Englishman got that
take without moneys worth
against Frenchman that may, and
Don that does. and Portugee like
yourself, that's long sight the worst
Of EN- all? l say, my lads. here's
rare sight; hungry Portugeer'
That's dead again nature said a
young fellow. But then It's true It's
lought but a half-bre Throw him a
bone"
Starved as it was, Dick Blackthorn's
British blood began to boil under his
Portuguese skin.
''Ay." said he, throw me a bone:
md when I've gnawed it, so sure as my
names Dick Blackthorn, I'll hight the
pest man among you for the meat,
and
''Blackthorn?" asked the other.
You'd better see the Quartermaster,
Is you've come off the same stick, YOU
wo. But chat he hanged. Put your
land in the pot and take the luck of it.
Ihere'll be enough for breakfast; and
hen come Nrhnt coma r,nn,- :,