The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-08-12

and the wagons again came to a stand
still. The officer who had characterized the
partisans as "cowardly ours" was on the
ground, riddled by buckshot from Angus
fowling piece. The British, of course,
again began firing in the woods, and now
that the location of their foes was better
localized, their aim was sures, and two or
three of the partisans were hit.
Follow me, al" cried George, and away
they went crashing through the under
growth, towards the wood-road, with bull
let's flying after them.
| By this time the British troopers in ad-
vance had found the obscure wood-road at
the point where it intersected the highway,
and dozen brave fellows spurred into it.
They paid dearly, however, for their
temerity, for, crowded together in the mar
row passage, they soon revealed to George
his opportunity.
sides of road. Now don't all aim as the
two or three in advance. Pick out your
man. Fire!'
Again the irregular volley was so effective
that the pursuit was checked but only for
a moment or two.
"Follow me, ALL" again cried George,
and he led the way until the rear squad
crught up with the Others. ave must
change our tactlcs," he resumed. "Scat-
ter. Each man take to the bushes for
himself, but keep advancing toward Char
lotte. When you see chance for shot,
blaze away and move ON. Keep within
sound of three whistles from me, which
will summon you together again. Away,
and each man be an Indian"
The pursuing force came up in time
only to hear receding sounds in every di-
rection, and to catch an occasional
glimpse of retreating form here and
there. Some, who had not been sufficient
lY swift in obeying the order had narrow
escapes, but they soon turned the tables
on their enemy, and, from places of con-
cealment, began scattering fire, which
increased as opportunity was found to re-
load.
The English troops soon learned that it
was useless to follow. A form, seen for
moment melted away, vanished only to
indicate its presence in another locality by
fatal shot They quickly retired there
fore to the highway again, where there
were confused counsels and almost panic.
Georges orders to fire on the horses had
chung to the hope of getting off with their
plumber. The poor dead and wounded
beasts were drawn aside, two wagons
abandoned, and with the rest, the party
was again pushing forward. Men were
reluctant to mount to exposed positions
in the drivers seat. aad the partisans soon
increased this hesitancy.
The conflict had now taken on form
well suited to the hardy natives, every one
of whom had been hunter. AS the troop
ers retired from the wood-road, they fol-
lowed and closed IN upon their exasperat-
ed but almost helpless victims. Georges
force, however, was so concealed in the
forest and so scattered that it afforded no
target, no point for definite attack. To
the British the woods appeared full of hor-
nets whose stings were felt, but whose
bodies were invisible. Drivers again be-
gan to tumble from their seats, horses
were again down, and even non-commis-
stoned officers, as sergeants, who in the
emergency had to exercise command, were
either hit, or else found bullets whizzing
near so often as to show that they were
singled out.
1t was not long before the instinct of
self-preservation gained the mastery;
traces were cut; each horse mounted by
two of the lnfantry-men and all the party
made rapid push for the open country.
The partisans followed until satisfied that
nothing more was to be feared from this
ravaging band, and then returned towards
the scene of the conflicts. They drew to-
gether in the road with flushed, excited
faces, and eyes in which still lingered
CLEANS of passion.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)