The Springdale news., 1889-07-26
[Copyrighted, 1Ss9.l

NIiAI Gsh 4AIN.-1pNllNUED
 Luke apurrcd his horse forward, and had just conc in sight of a garden fence, when there came a crash, and over and through the rotten pickets plunged three horsemen in gray uniforms. Colonel Mason was only q few rods from them, and fired a revolver as tbey disappeared into thicket.
 Fire don't let them escape, ne shouted, spurriug his horse m tho thicket after the fleeing men, Twenty muskets belched forth their deadly contents into the wood. The bullets shattered the trees, cut off the leaves in showers, but the three Confed- crates stll thundcrcd ahead, evidently un- harmed.
 In his eagcrness to capture them, Colonel Mason never stopped to consider that he was only one man on horseback, the remain der of his staff being in another place.
 An occasional glimpse of the fleeing gray coats spurred him on, and he drove his norsc at the top of his speed through the woods Two or three times he fired his re vover but owing to intervening trees and Ihe speed at which they were travelling he missed
 They were fully three fourths of a mile from the house when the sharp report of a rifle broke on the air, and the foremost horse and rider went down A white puff of smoke from bchnd tree marked the place from whence the shot had been fired. The horse pitched his rider over his head, throwing him with such force against tree US . stun him.
 Colonel Mason was astonished at the shot, For he knew none of his men were near enough to have fired it, but he never for q moment slackcncd his speed As his horse few through the woods, leaping logs and whizzing past trees. he saw the fallen rebel trying to rise, the blood streaming from a gut in his forehead caused by his fall against the tree
 X large, powerful negro bounded from a 1hicllct with blood curdling yell, and club hng his rife ran upon the fallen man to dash cut his brains Down came the gun as a curse of vengeance escaped the black, but at the instant il fell d horseman was along side and d sword was thurst forward ward ing off the blow
 What! would you kill wounded mani" erred Luke
 God almighty, massa, don't stand in my way.' cred the negro, pantng with rage. "Foh twenty-two vas l is been prayin' to dc debl to give me chance to kill dat man, an I'll kill hate him - hate him"
 In the momeDtary glances Colonel Mason
  discovered that the white man was Dick Sneed and the negro Blackhawk. Never had he seen such picture of rage and fury m his life as the negro presented. He was more like some rayenous beast than a human, his eyes almost started from thelr sockets, he was foamlng at the mouth and he had gnashcd his teeth until the froth about his lips had grown crimson
 "BlackhfWk, you shall not kill a helpless man." criCA the Colonel, ningng himself from his hose before tho furious negro
 Fl will, by I'll kill um if I hab to kill you fust."
 Luke had Got considered what a furious. madman he had to deal with until the negro aimed blow al his head, which, if he had not parred it with his sword, would have killed him on tho spot. With such force was the blow given that 1t shivered his rusty blade. Luke was almost as furious as the negro, and hurling the broken hilt into the blacks face, he closed in on him and, whipping out his revolver, struck Black hawk such blow on the head with the butt of the heavy weapon that he sent him down to the earth nscnsible.
 Turning to Dick Sneod he found him on his feet.
 Here, Dick, quick, mount my horse and fly for your life. That negro will kill you il be ever lays eyes on you.'
 He lifted the still dazcd man in the sad dle and started the horse away at a gallop. which the Confederate kept up until out of sight. Luke then turned toward Black hawk, who was just getting up. Not know ing what the black mIgh: do, he cooked his pistol, intending to shoot him, should it