The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-05
YOUNG HORNETS OF THE
HORNETS NEST.
AN HISTORICAL STORY OF LOVE
AND WAR.
BY p. ROE.
CHAPTER III. Continued.
HEADIONG ETTGuT


HEADLoNG FLIGHT.
II know it. wouldn't mind it for my
self so much, but can't endure to see my
men cut up. Save yourself anyway you
can. All! they are beginning to fire on
u.s."
II say, Joe, Gus McIntire has tresher
horse than any of us. Send him forward
with orders for each man to save himself
as best he can. 1t will give the boy a
chance"
"Glad you reminded me. Ensign Nc
Intire, ride swiftly up the line and say, in
passing, each man for himself"
The boy spurred forward, shouting the
order in his terror, his fine, fleet horse
carrying him eventually to the head of the
line. Hemmed in by fences as they were,
nothing yet was left for the hard pressed
partlsans but to continue straight on.
The horses of the pursuers were in
better condition than those of the pursued
and now, after keen run of nearly two
miles, the enemy gained rapidly. Bullets
began to fly in increasing numbers among
the partisans and now and then a poor fel.
low went down.
"Ah!" came from the major in involun-
tary exclamation.
"Are you hit, Joe?" asked George.
"Yes, twice. You and Craige save your
selves if you can. It's up with me. | can
merely sell my life dearly when they catch
up" and he drew his sabre.
Georges only reply was to draw his also
At that moment Burton's horse on the
other side went down and the young fell
low was thrown violently into the ditch by
the roadside where he lay motionless.
Curse the red devils!" muttered George
with swift glance at his friend, but he
rode on, watchful of his brother.
He and the major were falling behind,
for the latter had ceased to spur his horse
and was confused from the shock of his
bullet wounds. The yells of the foremost
pursuers were in their very ears. But a
few more leaps of their horses would
bring them abreast Great clouds of dust
rose up, through which George, looking
over his shoulder, saw obscure forms and
cleaning sabres.
"I'm hit again." cried the major. "Fly
George, fly. l shall fight and die here"
and he partially turned his horse to carry
out his purpose.
At that instant pistol bullet struck
Georges horse and, stung with pain, he
leaped forward dozen PAGES beyond con-
troll. AS the brave young fellow turned
with the impulse to fight and die with
his brother he saw him go down under
what seemed many sabre strokes and then
the dust hid him from view. With the celer-
ity oflightning the thought flashed through
Georges mind, 81 can do nothing" and in
that moment of obscurity he flung himself
from his horse, crawled to the roadside and
lay motionless, face downward, as if dead.
The British troopers, shouting in their
mad EMULATION, swept past and his ruse
was successful
Although Angus had spurred his horse
almost frantically, it took him some little
time to reach the head of the column, for
all the partisans were pushing their jaded
steeds to the utmost. By the time he
caught up with the most advanced the wall
on the left of the road ended and there
was open to the pursued rough broken
field with clumps of trees, which thickened
until they formed part of an extended
forest. Into this the partisans streamed
each one striking out for himself and
scattering as far as possible.
Angus hesitated a moment. What should
he do? AS the majors aid, was it not his
duty to return to him? He felt that it
was. He had merely been sent forward to
give an order and nothing had been said
about his future action. He was not sure
that the order was meant to apply to him
also, and he had the impression that it
vas always the duty of the aid to return to
his chief. Moreover, Burton and George
were still with Graham, as he believed, and
it would be disgraceful to ride away and
leave them. He felt that he must go back
and share the fate of those to whom he
was bound by every tie the battlefield per-
mlts; but God only knew what the effort
cost him. These thoughts passed through
his mind in one terrible moment. His
brave faithful will could again control his
action, but not his young, unburdened ma
ture, and crying bitterly, he turned his
horse to report to the major, who now lay
bleeding and helpless by the roadside. His
tears and the dust blinded him as he rode
slowly back, every instant expecting that
Grahum and his friends would appear
among flying partisans. Bullets were fly
ing about him. The yells of the British
troopers sounded like the cries of demons.
Suddenly his horse was struck by a furi-
ously galloping steed coming from the OPP
posite direction. He had only time to real
ize that his animal had lost its footing on
the ditch side and to take his feet out of
the stirrups when he fell and lost consci-
BUSINESS. His horse struggled up again
and galloped away without him. His head
had struck against stone, and had it not
been for his coon-skin cap the blow might
have been fatal.
When at last he revived the pursuit had
passed. He sat up and looked around
greatly confused and bewildered. Two
men down the road were lifting a body
over the fence. They appeared familiar.
An instant later he sprang up and ran to-
ward them crying, Burton, George"
"By the blessed powers of heaven, if
there amt Gus!'' said Burton, Thank
God we're together again and the major
isn't dead either, though he seems all cut
to pieces"
Hasten, every second counts now
cried George. "The enemy may be on us
at any moment. See, there's gully yon-
der leading to little thicket. You carry
our weapons Gus, and scud away while we
bring on the major. Our only chance is
to get to cover as soon as possible"
They reached the gully unobserved and
working their way down it, soon buried
themselves in dense thicket; then, pant
ing and trembling from excitement, look.