The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-06
CHAPTER XI.
I RIDE powN ITO TEMPLE.

lost. The wound in my shoulder was bleed
ing sore-I could feel the warm stream well
ing-yet not 50 sore as my heart. And
pressed my knees into the saddle flap anC
wondered what the end would be-
The ,sorrel mare was galloping, free and
strong, her delicate ears laid back, and the
network of veins under her soft skin working
with the heave and fall of her withers; yet
by the mud and sweat about her-I knew she
must have Travelled far before mounted.
heard shot or two fired, far up the road
though their bullets must have fallen short:
at least, l heard none whiz past. But the
rebels shouting was clear enough and the
thud of their gallop behind.
l think that, for a milo or two, must have
ridden in a sort OF swo0n. 'Tis certain, not
an inch of the road comes back to me; nor
did l once turn my head to look back, but sat
with my eyes fastened stupidity on the mares
neck. And by and by, as we galloped tbs
smart of my wouad, the heartache, hurry,
pounding of hoofs, all dropped TO an en-
chanting lull. rode, and that was all.
For, swoon or no, was lifted off earth, as
it seemed, and on easy wings to an incredible
height, where were no longer hedges, nor
road, nor country round; but a great still
ness, and only the mare and I running Ian
guidly through it.
"Ride!"
Now, at first, I thought twas some one
speaking this in my ear, aid turned my head.
But twas really the last word had heard
from Della, now after half an hour repeated
in my brain. And as l grew aware of this
the dizziness fell off me- and all became very
distinct. And the muscles about my wound
had stifened-which was Wiley painful; and
the country, saw, was brown, barren
moor, dotted with peat ricks; and l cursed it.
This did me good; for it woke the fighting
man in me, and [ set my teeth. Now for the
first time looking back, saw, with great
gulp of joy, had gained on the troopers. A
long dip of the road lay between me and the
foremost, now topping the crest. The sun had
broke through at last, and sparkled on his cap
and gorget. 1 whistled TO Molly q could not
pat herr and spoke to her softly; the sweet
thing pricked up her ears, laid them back
again, and mended her pace. Her stride was
beautiful to feel.
She was going her best, but the best was
near spent. The sweat was oozing, her satin
coat losing the gloss, the spume flying back
from her nostrils "Sohl'' l called to her
''sohl my beauty; we ride to save an army.n
The loose stones flew right and left, as she
reached out her neck, and her breath came
shorter and shorter
A mile, and another mile, we passed in
this trim, and by the end of it must have
spent three-quarters of an hour at the work
CHANGING back, l saw the troopers scattered;
far behind, but following. The heights were
still a weary way ahead; but | could mark
their steep sides ribbed with powders. Till
these were passed, there was no chance to
hide The parties in this race could see each
other all the way, and must ride it out.
And all the way the ground kept rising.
had no means to ease the mare, even by
pulling off my heavy jackboots, with one
arm land that my right dangling useless.
Once she flung up her head and I caught
sight of her nostril, red as fire, and her poor
eyes starting. felt her strength ebbing be-
tween my knees Here and there she blum
dered in her stride. And somewhere, over
the ridge yonder, lay the Army of the West,
and we alone could save it.
But sweet, gallant Molly must have held
on, for the next thing l woke up to was a
four holed cross beside the road, and soon
after we were over the ridge and gathering
down hill
A rough tor had risen full in front, but the
road swerved to the left and took us down
among the spurs of it. Now was my last
lookout. tried to sway less heavily in the
saddle, and with my eyes searched the plain
at our feet
Alas! Beneath us the waste land was
spread, mile upon mile; and groaned aloud.
For just below 1 noted clump of roofeSs
cabins, and beyond, upon the mOors, the
dotted walls of sheep cotes, ruined also, but
in all the sad colored leagues no living man,
nor the sign of one. 1t was done with Us.
l refined up the mare-and then, in the same
motion, wheeled her sharp to the right.
High above, on the hillside, voice was
calling.
looked up. Below the sleeper ridge of
the tor a patch of land had been cleared for
tiIlage; and here yoke of oxen was moving
leisurely before a plow ttwas their tinkling
bells had heard, just now; while behind
followed by the widest shape-by the voice,
a woman.
She was not calling to me, but 10 her team;
and as put Molly at the slope, her chant
rose and fell in the mournfulest sing-song.
"So-hoai Cop Comely Vean! COP, then
o-oop!"
rose in my stirrups and shouted.
At this and the sound Of hoofs, she stayed
the BLOW and, hand on hip, looked down the
slope. THE oxen. softly rafting the chains
on their yoke, turned their necks and gazed.
With sunk head Molly heaved herself up the
last few yards and came to a halt with
stagger. Islipped out of the saddle and stood,
with a hand on it, swsying
whats thy need, young man-thst com
est down TO Temple WI sword a-danglin'T'
The girl was a half naked savage, dressed
only in a strip of sacking that barely reached
her knees and scant bodice of the same,
laced in front with pack thread that left her
bosom and brown arms free. Yet she ap-
peared no whit abashpd. but leaned on the
pillow tail and regarded me easy and frank, as
a man would.
sell me horsei1 hlurted out Twenty
guineas viii give for one within five min
utes, and more if he be good. ride on the
kings Grand"
Then get thee back to thy master an say
no horse shall he have o me-nor any man
that uses horsefesh So" She pointed to Mol
ly's knees. that were bowed and shaking and
the bloody froth dripping from her mouth
Girl. for Gods sake sell me horse. They
are after me and am hurt I pointed W
the road. Better than l are concerned in
this
''God nor king know I, young man But
what's on thy saddle cloth theze1
Twas the smear where my blood had soaked, !
and, looking and seeing the purple mess caked |
with mud aud foam on the sorrers flank, I
felt suddenly very sick. The girl made a step I
10 me.
more ike Nay, then. lad
But l saw her no longer; only called ''oh- /
oh.' twice, Ike a little child and, slipping I
my hold OF the saddle, dropped forward on 4
her breast.