Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-03-17
.ider became terrified, for he man

/ 11oOI OCSoAAS pO11AlSAj 4SA az $1,000
aged the reins and stirrups so
awkwardly that he had no control
over the animal. 1t tplunged along
the road, coming ever nearer the
ravine, while Borden clung to the
pommel of the saddle with death
grip. The situation was in the
highest degree serious.
The two guides hastened towards
him, but could not reach him (;
however, help came from the other
side. The poacher had looked
around and seen the danger; the
next moment he caught the animal
by the bride and forced him to
stand still.
"You might have had fall! |!
What's the matter with the mule?"
he asked in mountain dialect.
|
The unfortunate rider was inca
pable of uttering work; deathly
pale be clung> to the saddle and
only raised himself up when his
travelling companions surrounded
him expressing their pity and
sympathy. Borden dismounted,
and while the guides endeavored
to quiet the terrified animal Miss
Graham and the two gentlemen
held secret council.
What was to be done? They
could not order the poacher to
leave since he had just saved the
life of one of the party; it would
be dangerous to let him know that
he was discovered. He might set
the inn on fire when they had to
sleep that night, or he might sur
prise them with his entire band
of accomplices. There was no
help for it but to put good face
on a bad matter until they should
reach the hotel. They could then
take the host into their confidence
and adopt protective measures.
The little procession again
startedin the order suggested by
Miss Graham. In front rode Ber-
den with a guide leading his unre-
liable mule. Mr.. Rosman with the
other guide formed the rsar guard,
while Miss Graham, as the bravest,
had selected the most dangerous
position. She rode in the centre,
near the enemy, and Adele beside
her.
This poacher was, aside from his
dangerous character, quite apretty
fellow. Slender and tanned by the
sun, with dark hair and beard and
lively dark eyes, he looked hand
some in his trim Sunday suit. He
walked briskly up the mountain
as if it was an easy thing to keep
pace with the animals, and had
breath enough to relate the gayest
stories to the young lady.
Miss Graham hesitated at first
whether she should take her young
charge into her confidence; the
conversation becoming more lively
she decided to do SO.
"Adele," she began in English,
and in an your evil-foreboding
tone, II cannot allow you to re-
main in your unsuspecting secur-
ity, but must declare to you the
danger that threatens you and per-
haps all of u.s."
The young lady turned and asked
with an astonished look, also in
English: danger? When?"
"Near us. There by your side" I"
"By my side? You don't mean
Franz?"
"The man who calls himself
Franz, yes! Heaven knows what
his true name is. Don't be fright
ened; he is a poacher and has de-
signs upon ns."
"But we are not game," cried
Adele laughing brightly.
"Don't laugh, the affair may be
very serious. Haven't you noticed
that this man has followed us for
a week, that he disappears when
ever we approach the hotels, and
joins us again 80 soon as we are
alone? Have you not observed
that he is always at your side, be-
cause from you, the youngest and
most inexperienced of our party.
it will be easiest to get informa-
ton? He is criminal, I tell you,
and one of the most. dangerous
kind"
fYou are mistaken, Miss Gra-
ham Franz is not criminal,
although many things about him
seem peculiar to me. He has ideas