The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-22
down in the ravine, and some birds were


Dave walked fast, and before long ne
could see the end of the wood less than
| a quarter of mile away, and the great
! pines that rose on either side of the side.
He was still thinking of all the delight
full possibilities that lay snugly next to
his breast, and wondering If ever ne
| would be the owner of so much money,
| when q gruff voice broke in on his reilec-
tons.
"Hullo. Dave. me boy!"
Leaning against a great rock on one
side of the path was Black Mike. worth
less fellow, who had been discharged from
one of tlc camps nearly week before,
and whom every one supposed to be Tar
away by this time. A broad grin dis
tortcd his ugly face, and his hands were
thrust carelessly into his pockets.
Dawes heart sank within him, but he
represscd all signs of fear, and with a
cheerful "How dy do, NIike?" he walked
past. ~
"See here mint, me lad," and Mike
stepped out in front of him. "lll
trouble ye to hand over that money, me
boy. You're too young intirely to be
trusted wild such valuables.
He lecred at Dave with chuckle, evl-
dcntly anticipating an easy victory.
Dave tremblcd as he realized how COM
pletely he was in the ruffian's power.
'sBe quick, now," added Mike. 'Ill
not harm We. Pass it over, an go back
an tell ould Dagon him an mes quits
now. Hurry up, Oh say" and Mikes
smile gave way to heavy frown.
At this critical moment, like flash an
inspiration came into Dawes mind, a plan
so reckless, so daring, that it nearly took
his breath.
The money must be saved at any cost.
How could he face the squire and confess
| that he had calmly handed it over at the
robbers bidding2
Quick as conceived, his determination
was formed. He must take the only
chance, but it was desperate one.
"See here, Mike" said he, "what'll
the squire say if I go back this way?
Can't you tic my hands behind me SO
he'll know I made fight for it?"
Mike laughed loudly.
"Orll be hanged if you amt cute
one. I'll see if Oi have any cord, and
he dove into his pockets with both hands.
Dave took one long breath, and like a
streak shot off down the road, with his
sled careering madly from side to side be-
hind him.
The very daring of the act nearly de-
prived Mike of his senses for an instant,
and with open mouth and staring eyes he
saw the space between them grow big
ger and bigger. Then, with a terrible
imprecation, he dashed in pursuit, shout
ing loudly: ''stop, yc thafe, stop, or
Oil break every bone in yurc body!"
Dave was making desperate effort,
straining every nerve, and holding his
breath hard, but the infuriated Irishman
was coming on behind with great plung-
ing strides that were rapidly bringing him
close.
The bluff of the mountain was very
near now, and beyond the cliff line Dave
could see, far across the river, snow-clad
fields and scattered farms, and even tiny
church spire, shining clear in the bright
moonlight. But before him, only few
yards now, was that awful abyss, ten
times longer and sleeper than any tobag-
gan slide ever built, great gully, gliding
almost perpendicularly down the rugged
face of the mountain.
Dave remembered with shuddcr how
the great logs used to plunge madly down
the slide, turning somersaults at the bot
tom, and churning the turbid tide Of the
river into q secthing caldron Of tawny
yellow foam. Now the river was ice
bound from shore to shore.
The robbers crunching footsteps were
close behind him. An instant,s delay
and he was lost.
He stopped, grasped the sled with both
hands and threw himself with a forward
motion heavily down the path.
As the runners struck the frozen snow,
Black Mike, with wild cry, hurled him
self on Dawes back. The sled, freighted
with its heavy burden, shot rapidly down
the path, and darting between two great
pines, plunged sullenly over the brink.
Not cry escaped its occupants. and
what followed Dave could never after
ward speak of intclligently. When the
sled made the plunge he jerked his cap
partly over his eyes and held his head
down. He remembered the 1rishman' S
heavy weight on his back, the long arms
that reached beyond his own and gripped
the sides of the sled. Then came blind,
dizzy sensation, roaring in his cas-,
burning pains as Of thousand needles
piercing his hands and face, feeling of
sufrocation. Next, just as his cap was
wrcnched violently from his head, the
sled appeared to leave the ground, leap
madly into the air, and with stunning
shock that seemed to have shattered every
bone in his body he lost consciousness.
1t was only momcntarily. He opened
his eyes, and with one hand drops of
blood from his face. They were gliding
with fearful velocity over the frozen river
straight toward Wysanking. He remem-
bercd only dimly what had happened.
That heavy weight was still pressing on
his back.
Instinctivcly he reached for his breast
pocket. The money was there. He was
just beginning to realize the situation
when the sled plunged blindly into a
half-frozcn air-holc surrounding great
brown rock in the center of the river
He heard the ice crack and break, he
felt the icy water splashing full in his