The Ottawa free trader., 1888-10-06

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flashed, and in the distance could be heard
the low rumble of thunder.
They neared dark forest that loomed up
before them,
Paul was brave boy, but he could not
help glancing anxiously at the deep shadows
of the woods, at the tall trees Hitting by and
listening TO the dismal echoes his horses
footballs awokc, Suddenly there came n
flash of lightning. and a tall oak, shvered
from top to bottom, fell across the pathway.
At the same time a loud clap OF thunder
shook the ground and died away in low re-
verberations over against the distant noun
tains.
Paus horse reared on its Launches, para
lyzed with fear; then, trembling In every
limb, with wild neigh of terror, 1t made
flying leap over the PROSTATE tree and darted
down the road with flying feet.
Paul knew his danger, but he was accus'
toned to riding, and he chung to the saddle
with his head bent forward on the horses
neck To keep the horse straight in the road
was his object, and each moment bore them
nearer to their destination.
The dispatches must be delivered In time;
they were of vital importance to the army,
and tho boy was true southerner at heart,
ready to die for his country. He would do
his duty; no one should ever say he was u
coward.
Suddenly the rain began to pour in tor
rents, making binding sheet OF water The
lightning flashes lit the wild scene from time
to time, and boom on boom Of loud, rum
bling thunder echoed among the hills.
Onward the horse flew, each peal Of thun-
der lending fresh speed to his feet On
through the rain, the darkness OF the dismal
forest, with outstretched neck, quivering
nostrils, limbs trembling with fear.
Out Of the woods into the open road again,
and Paul drew sigh Of relief. Before him
were the twinkling lights Of village. Up
the hill he came and down the long, narrow
street, the iron hoofs striking fire from the
stony pavement The shop windows looked
like patches OF light in the darkness, and he
could see the clerks run to the door to see
who the mad rider was.
As he left the village behind and trailed
out into the country again Paul heard the
town clock slowly Ginning seven. He had
ridden ten miles in the last hour.
Still tho mad pace was kept up as the horse
few past fields OF corn, through low pasture
lands and by farm houses perched on rocky
hills, over rustic bridges that creaked beneath
the beating hoofs, up muddy hills and down
IN low valleys through ankle deep water that
splashed horse and rider from head to foot.
He must have been riding at least half an
hour longer, when ut the turn OF the road
Paul caught sight Of a man on horseback.
1t was tho picket of the Union cavalrymen,
who were resting and eating supper in a
small cabin a few feet from the roadside
"Halt" cried the soldier, as Paul came
galloping up. But the horse and rider dashed
by without needing the command. The
picket raised his pistol, there was a crack
and bullet whizzed by the boys ear.
The soldier started in pursuit and the rest
OF the men ran to their horses and darted
away after him. Paul heard them coming,
heard tho heavy splash Of their galloping
horses Oh tho muddy road. But the pursuers
were soon left behind, and Paul sped on alone
through tho night.
Just as he crossed the railroad track he
heard the heavy rumblng Of the approaching
express, aud the bright headlight burst in
view around the curve. With bound the
horse cleared the track and sped onward.
1t was five minutes Of 3, Paul knew, for at
JUuU uOuT tuC CI0ih was uuC. AL - AC" hii-
utes more 10 was at the station, which was
eighteen miles from his home.
As he left behind him the long line Of light
from the car windows the horse began to
slacken his pace, and his rider could hear the
heavy breathing that was the first sign
Of exhaustion He galloped still, but 1t was
In a labored way, and Paul could see that
his strength would not last much longer, so
he pulled in the reins little. The horse
relapsed into a swinging trot, and Paul sat
upright in the saddle.
The storm was now past, and the dark
clouds drifted by rapidly before the rising
wind, leaving the drenched landscape flooded
with silvery moonlight. Paul could see the
corn lying PROSTATE in the flooded fields the
cleaning in the watery light, with
the overfowing brooks that washed over
them, and now and then fallen tree or
overturned fence
The horses trot grew slower and slower.
Paul could feel the trembling limbs totter rs
they staggered onward. The heavy breath
ing grew shorter and quicker, the smoking
flanks were covered with foam, and from
tho distended nostrils tricked tiny stream
of blood.
One mile, two miles, they crept on. The
trot relapsed into a walk, the walk into a
stagger. Then, with loud half neigh, half
groan, the exhausted animal fell to the
ground dead.
Paul sprang of as the horse rolled over and
set out down the road ut a run. Up and
down hill, splashing through tho streams, he
hurried, with but ono thought in his mind
to deliver the dispatches in time. For more
than mile no ran, but his exertions began
to tell on him and his legs began to weary.
Once he slipped and fell, then sat for mo-
ment breathless, but no sprang up and hast
ened forward
His strength was beginning to fail him
when before him he saw light twinkling in
q farm house With the energy Of despera-
ton hs ran forward and opening the door
fell PROSTATE in the room.
woman who was knitting near crib
screamed at the sight Of the boy drenched to
the skin, spattered with mud and sprinkled
with blood, lying on tho floor, but soldier
in the uniform of Confederate colonel
sprang up from the chair in which he sat
smoking, and lifting up the helpless form,
laid it tenderly on sofa.
"Oh, sir" gasped Paul, jerking the dis
patches from his pocket, take these, take
these quick to Col Raynor. His courier was
killed and II brought themr
Col Raynor, for it was he, opened tho pa
pers read them hastily and calling an or