Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-10-05

ing path. He opened his long
knife, and tried to dislodge the
stone. 1t won't come, yes-yes,
thank heaven! it will. IL is out!
Harley sprang to the saddle as
he caught the first glimpse of two
riders through the trees.
They shouted exultantly in short
lived triumph. But Rory was off
again like the wind. Little cared
he for pain; he knew that danger
was behind him and his master on
his back.
On, on they sped, and fast and
heavily behind him sounded the
noise of their pursuers. On, on,
good steed! 1t is for life.
Harley never knew how long it
was before the sound of pursuit be-
gan to slacken. He fancied that
the horses behind him were getting
spent and falling farther behind,
but he could hardly think clearly.
He only knew that Rory never
tagged that the forest grew lighter
before him, and guessed that they
must be drawing near the halfway
house, where the teams were used
to stop on their way into the woods.
Once within sight of the place he
felt sure that pursuit must cease,
since there was always supposed to
be some one i'll charge of the place,
and it was always possible that some
traveller might have halted there.
Before he came in sight of the log
built hut, he heard, with unuttera-
bic feelings of thankfulness, the
sounds OF pursuit lessening and
finally dying away in the distance.
lie knew that he was safe.
Safe! When he drew bride at
the door of the hut, he fell, rather
than dismounted from his horse, so
faint and exhausted was he from
the terrible scene through which he
had passed.
lie was glad to find that the keep
er of the place was not at that
moment within, though he had
little reason to be ashamed Of his
agitation.
} He sank upon the rude wooden
: bench by the door, and allowed
Rory to Craze near him, now and
: then stopping to rub his head
against his masters arm and gaze
into his face.
When he had fairly recovered
himself, Harley determined never
to relate his adventure.
+, ITO what good?" he said to HIM
self II came off all right, and l
hate to be the hero of so many
foolish stories as would be sure to
, get in circulation. And should
Elsie once hear of it, it would ter
rify her almost to death. She would
suffer agonies every time ] have to
leave her. And | must take this
same journey great many times
in the future. 1t is very unlikely
: that such a thing will occur again.
and | cannot give up my business.
My business lies between the count
ing-house and the mill, and | must
look after both. Some day ] may
be part owner of the business. |
won't be frightened out of my pro-
spects in life, even by the danger
: Of to-day"
He kept his word, thus pledged
to himself. Elsie never guessed the
mortal peril through which her
husband had passed.
But many time, as he took the
2 same forest road, did he talk to
! Rory of that wild headlong gallop
! through the forest, and well did the
brave steed seem to show that he
remembered that fearful ride for
: life.
Never was u good horse more
t loved and petted than was Rory.
; And sometimes people wondered
that he was so dear to Harley, fleet
: and beautiful as he was.
!, "He saved my life once" was
Harley's answer, when some one
J asked him why he loved the horse
l so well. But he never told how it
$ was. That was always secret
! between the two.
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