The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-02-05

III tIIell WSIe opScully Iuu uOWu duU
captured. One of them was Corp. Dono-
van. and Donovan's face was white and
his manner agitated Bidding him ride
alongside as they pushed ahead towards
the ranch, Stryker questioned him as to
what had taken place, and the corporal
never sought to eouivocate:
We VI oetn trying tol several nights,
sir to get horses and go down and have
it out with those blackguards at the
ranch. We took no arms, sir, even those
of US VINO had pistols of our own All
we asked was fair fight, man against
man They wouldn't come out of their
hole-they dasn't do it, strand then
they fired on us. We'd have burned the
roof over their heads, but that Lieut..
Perry galloped in and stopped us. l
came away then, sir. and so did most of
us We knew twas all up when we saw
the lieutenant; but there was more fir
ing after left. This way. captain. Out
across the prairie here. We cut down
the fence on this side" And so saying,
Donovan led the little troop to broad
gap in the wide barrier, and thence
straight across the fields to where lights
were seen fitting about in the dark
shadows Of the buildings of the ranch.
Another moment, and Stryker had dis
mounted and was kneeling beside the
PROSTATE and unconscious form of his
lieutenant Some misguided ranchman,
mistaking for new assailant the tall
young soldier who galloped into the
midst of the swarm Of haunting Irish
men, had fired the cruel shot. There
lay Nolan dead upon the sward, and
here, close at hand, his grief stricken
master had finally swooned from loss
of blood. the bullet having pierced his
leg below the knee. Beside him knelt
the doctor: he had cut away the natty
riding boot, and was rapidly binding up
the wound. Close at hand stood Gwynne,
a world of anxiety and trouble in his
bruised and still discolored face.
Grouped around were some of the as
sailing party, crestfallen and dismayed
at the unlocked for result of their foray,
but ashamed to attempt to ride away,
now that their favorite young officer
was sore stricken as result Of their mad
folly. Mr.. Even, too, had come out,
and was bustling about, giving direc-
lions to the one or two of his hands who
had ventured forth from the office build
ing. The big frame house under whose
walls the group was gathered was evil
IDENTIFY used as dormitory for number
of men, and this had been the objective
point of the attack, but not a soul had
issued from it's portals; the occupants
were the men who made the assault on
Perry the night of his first visit, and
now they deemed it best to keep within
Everything indicated that Perry had got
to the scene just in time to prevent a
bloody and desperate fracas, for the few
ranch people who appeared were still
quivering with excitement and dread.
Even was almost too much agitated to
speak:
eco to Mr.. Maitland as soon as you
can, doctor: this has given him fearful
shaking up. Mrs. Cowan is having a
room made ready for Mr.. Perry. Ahi
here's young Cowan now. Ready?' he
asked
"An ready. Mother says carry the
gentleman right in. She wants you to
come too" he added, in lower tone, to
Sergt. Gwynne, but the latter made no
reply.
And so, borne in the arms of several
of his men, Lieut.. Perry was carried
across the intervening space and into the
main building. When he recovered con-