Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-09
CHAPTER X.
RIDE DOWN INTO TEMPLE.

And now | did indeed abandon myself to
despair Few would have given groat for
my life, with that crew at my heels; and
least of all, now that my dear comrade was
lost. The wound in my shoulder was bleed
ing sore-I could feel the warm stream we'll
ing-yet not so sore as my heart. And l
pressed my knees into the saddle flap and
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. l
heard a shot or two fired, far up the road;
though their bullets must have fallen short;
at least, heard none whiz past. But the
rebels shouting was clear enough and the
thud of their gallop behind.
think that, for a mile or two, must have
ridden in a sort of swOOn. It's certain, not
an inch of the road comes back to me; nor
did 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, the
smart of my wound, the heartache, hurry,
pounding of hoofs, all dropped to an ell
chanting lull. rode, and that was all.
For, swoon OF 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 great still
ness, and only the mare and l running Ian
guidly through it.
"Ridel"
Now, at first, l thought twas some one
speaking this in my ear, and turned my head.
But twas really the last word had heard
from Della, now after half an hour repeated
in nv brain. And as | grew aware of this
the dullness fell off me, and all became very
distinct And the muscles about my wound
had stiffened-which was vilely painful; and
the country, l saw, was a 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, l saw, with great
gulp of JOY, 1 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. 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 WIS oozing, her satin
coat losing the gloss, the spume flying back
| from her nostrils "Solf!n l called to her
"sohl my beauty; we ride to save an army"
The loose stones few right and left, as she
reached out her neck, aud 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, saw the troopers scattered;
| far behind, but following. The heights were
still a weary way ahead; but I 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.
| l had no means to ease the mare, even by
pulling or my heavy jackboots, with one
arm land that my right dangling useless
| Once she flung up her head and 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
theridge 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 1 woke up to was a
! four holed cross beside the road, and soon
after we were over the ridge and gathering
down hill
A rongh 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
&C our feet
AIasl Beneath US the waste land was
spread, mile upon mile; and 1 groaned aloud.
For Just below l noted a 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.
refined up the mare-and then, in the same
motion, wheeled her sharp TO the right.
High above, on the hillside, a voice was
calling.
Hooked up Below the sleeper ridge of
the tor patch of land had been cleared for
tiIlage; and here yoke of oxen was moving
leisurely before a plow ctwas their tinkling
bells had heard, Just noS1; while behind
followed by the widest shape-by the voice.
a woman
She was not calling to me, but to her team;
a1d as l put Molly at tho Slope, her chant
rise and fell in the mournfulest sing-song.
.sSo-hoai Cop Comely Veani oop. then
o-ooPl7
rose ia any stiTrups and shouted
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