Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-06

the trees opened, Sslden and his men
could be seen riding briskly, still bent
upon Sir Dsniel's mission.
I "Now, mark" Dick whispered. "They
! ne slresdy we'll advanced into the WOOD;
their safety lieth rather continuing
forward. But see ye where this wide
glade runneth down before us, and in the
midst of 1t, these two score trees make
Ike an ielsD67 There were their safety
An they but c'me soupd as far IS that, !
will make a shift 10 wsrn them. But my
heart misgiveth me; they are but seven
sgainst go many, and they but carry
cross-bows. The long how, Jack, will
nave the uppermost ever"
Selden and his men in the meanwhile
had come to q very open, healthy portion
Of the wsv, where nus sing tongue OF
forest ran down TO Join the road. They
! we're out just ahresst OF this, when sa
, arrow shoue filing. 0ae of the man
threw up his arms, his horse reere', anc
both fell and struggled together in 3
msss. Even from Were the boys Law
theV could hear the Iumor OF the men's
voices crying out; they could see h"
startled horses pr,ncing, and,
PRESENTLY, as the troop = begiD to
r,cover from their first surprise, one
How beginning to dismouDt. A Sec
oDd Srrow from somewhat further CT
glanced in wide erch; q second rider
Dit the dust. The man who was dis
mounting, lost hold upon the rein, and
his horse fed Rslloping, and dragged him
ny the foot along the rosd bumping from
stone to stone, and hsttersd ~ the fleeing
hoois Thefour who still kept the saddle H.
stently broke snd scattered; one wheeled
and rode, sbrlekiug, towards the fry;
the other three, with loose rein and flying
ralment, came gslloping up the TO from
Tunstall. From every clump they passed
an arrow sped. Soon horse fell, bur
the rider found his feet and continued TO
pursue his comrades till s second shot
dispatched him. Another man fell; hen
another horse; out of the whole troop
there was but one fellow LEFT, and he on
foot; only, in different directions, the
Use of the gslloping of three riderless
horses WAS dying fast into the distance
All this time not one Of the asssisu:s
had for moment shown himself. Here
and there along the path, horse or man
rolled, uudespstched, In his sgony; but
no merciiul enemy broke cover 10 put
them from their pain.
The solitary survivor stood bewild red
in the road beside his fallen charger He
had come the length Of that broad glade,
with the island of timber, pointed out by
Dick. He was not, perhaps, five hundred
yards from where the boys lay hidden
and they could see him plainly, lookir g
to and fro in deadly expectation. Bul
: nothing csme; and the msu began TO
pluck up his courage, and suddenly IN
| slupg sud bent his bow. At the same
Ptime, by something In his action, Dick
recognized Selden.
At this Offer Of resistance, from al
. about him in the covert Of the woods
there went up the sound of laughter. a
score of men, at least, for this wss the
very thickest of the AMBUSH, lined il
, t is cruel and untimely mirth. Then ar
srrow glsnced over Selden's shoulder
, and then he lesped aud ran little back
Another dart stuck Quiyering at his heel
> He made for the cover. A third shat
: leaped out right in his face, and fell shor
= in front Of him. And then the laughte
= was repested loudly, rising and re.echo
;, ing from different thlckets.
@ It was plain that his ssssilants were bu
batting him, as men, in those days, baiteC
the poor bull, or as the cat still TRIES will
o the mouse. Selden began to understand
he uttered a loud roar of anger, shout
q dered his cross bow, apd sent qu.rre
at venture into the wood. Chance fsv
e ored him, for 9 slight cry responded
Then, throwing down his weapon, Seldel
}, began to run before him up the glade
and almost in straight line for Dick anc
!, Matchsm.
< The companion of the Black Arrow
|. now began to shoot at him In earnest
s But they were properly served; thei
n chance had past; most Of them had nov
q to shoot against the sun; and Selden, 8
!, he ran, bounded from side to side t
d b, I'll and deceive their aim. Best of all
d by turning up the glade he had defeate
n all their preparations; there were n
msrksmen posted higher mp than the on
whom he mad Just killed or wounded; 80
;. the confusion of the fofesters' counsel
" soon became apparent. A whistle souude
thrice, and then again twice. 1t was r,
a. peated from another qusrter. The wood
a. on either side becsme full of the sound {
people bursting through the underwood
J. Selden was within fifty yards of I'll
I'd lads, when an arrow struck him spd
fell. He was up again, indeed, upon Il
b. instant; but now he ran staggering, an,
like bind man, turned aside from b
I'd direction.
Dick leaped to his feet and waved
I'd him.
"Herel" he cried. "This way! here
n helpl Nay, run, fsllow-runl"
But just then q second arrow stru'
ne Selden in the shoulder, between Il
in plates of his brigsndiue, and, piercir
1 through his jack, brought him, like
stone, to,earth.
~ 40, the poor hearth" cried Matchsr
,ll with clasped hands.
IS And Dick stood petrifled upon the hi
8 mark for archery.
It Ten to one he had speedily been 81
re for the foresters were furious wi
N, themselves, and taken unswares
of Dicks appearance in the rear of the
to position-but instantly, out of quart
of the wood surprisingly near to the ty
,ol lads, q stentorian voice arose, the vol
,st of Ellis Duckworth.
"Hol6i" it reared. "Shoot notf Ta
ID. him slive' It is young Shelton-HarrJ
10. SON."
an And Immediately after shri]l whis
sounded several times, and was ags
sy taken up and repeated farther of. T
il whistle, 1t appeared, was John Amen
all ALPS battle trumpet, by which he publis
at ed his directions.
Is. "Ah, foul fortunel" cried Dick. "y
-,Horo Dif TscH. ~,