San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-05-15
A PERILOUS RIDE

were still covered with virgin forest, and
tho few scattered settlements gave little
promise Of ever growing into the flour
ishing towns which now dot the country.
Over the rough roads farmers had hard
work to get produce to market. Game
wns plentiful In tho dense woods, but so
were bears, panthers and wolves-alto-
gether too plentiful at times, and very
little travelling was done utter dark.
Among the first settlers of what Is now
called the garden Of Canada were two
cousins, named Tom Shepton and Hugh
Mallet. Their farms adjoined and they
were tho best Of friends. But 1t so hap
pencd that they both fell in love with
pretty Mary Huston, and Tom won her.
Hugh was passionate by nature, and he
vowed he would never speak to either of
them ngain.
Tom and Mary were married one fine
July day and went to keeping house at
once; but though the houses of the cous-
ins stood not hundred yards apart, and
the nearest neighbors were miles away,
Hugh would not look at his successful
rival and wife.
Every thing went well with the young
couple until one evening when Mary was
taken suddenly alarmingly i'll. 1t wac
in the latter part Of january; snow
drifts blocked the road to the settlement
where the doctor lived; u blizzard hat
been blowing for some days, and it wai
intensely cold.
The farms of the cousins were about
seven miles from the settlement, and the
most of the way lay through the forest.
It meant at least two, and perhaps thrcc,
hours Of hard work for the best team tc
reach 1t, and Tom dared not leave his
wife. Far from the necessaries Of ordi-
nary civilized life. hardy pioneers who
lead the van Of progress in the wilds
have to depend much on the good will OF
each other.
Tom saw himself forced to ask favor
Of Hugh, and much as he dislil,ed to nc
cept one from man who would not take
kind word from him. he stepped into
bis cousins house and told him OF his
distress.
Hugh heard him in silence, and then
went out and hitched his team to cut,
ter. He piled in u heap of buffalo robes
and put SIX shooter in his pocket.
Then, without word, he drove off, fol,
lowed by the grateful thanks of his
cousin.
The sun had set an hour ago, and the
stars were sparkling and glittering in
the deep. blue black sky. but later on the
moon would rise and light the way home.
1t was bitterly cold, and the frigid
gusts Of wind stung Hugh's face like
cuts from whip lashes. He knew he had
risky journey before him in going to
the settlement by night.
The winter had been hard one, and
at such times wild beasts begin to hang
around the houses and to prowl about
the roads
He kept sharp eye on the horses, for
when 1t comes to shifting danger q horse
can give a man points.
They foundered through innumerable
drifts and over many q stump and fallen
tree, but yet made such good time that
in an hour they reached better piece OF
road about two miles from the settle
ment.
Urging the team to trot. Hugh set
tied back among the robes, congratulate
ing himself ON the safe and quick trip
they had made.
For few hundred yards his medita-
tions flowed along uninterrupted, but
when "a certain low growth of bushes
was reached, the horses snorted loudly
and reared back on their launches.
Hugh was nearly thrown cut by the
sudden stop.
Get upl" he cried.
And rs he had no whip, he lashed them
with rope halter he had in the cutter,
one end of which was tied 10 the seat TO
keep IL from being lost
Crackl crack! went the rope, but the
horses would not move forward. Their
ears pointed right ahead, and they stood
shiyering with fright.
Drawing his revolver. Hugh peered be
yond them in q vain attempt tO discover
the source Of their scared appearance.
go alorz!" he yelled aEyain, sraaeling
the lines ON the horses' back-''go alongr
Just then they swerved sharply, and a
great. dark body sprang out q the bushes
and landed right IN the cutter.
Il was a panther, and - sudden and
unexpected was rs leap that Hugh had
no time % FIRE. Its great fore paws came
asrzfust his lr-sast and ann, knocking the
revolver out of his grasp and tearing half
his cloths a. It's foul, STAINING breath
r.,--..d into his face. and the great, giis-
teuiur fsngs were not SIX inches fr0m his
throat.