The Portland daily press., 1892-06-08

without reason, were about to drag hln
from his home, and it was theinnate I'M
pulse of resistance and defense that i'm
PEELED the blow. But no matter the
motive, the Confederate captain lay dead
on the hearth.
No sudden remorse came to Jack
Hurd; the dormant tiger in his nature
was aroused to fury at the sight of blood
and the realization of the wrong pro-
posed and the indignity offered by these
men. He raised the ak again, and the
other man would have shared the fats
Of his captain had not Minny thrown
herself on her brothers arm.
The young man saw in an instant that
the time had come when he, too, must
leave his mothers house if he would
save not only his freedom, but his life
He hurriedly bound the captains COM
panion, then he went into the other halt
of the double log cabin and put on his
pistols and took down his rifle.
"Whars yo' gwine?" asked his mother,
| who, with Minny, had followed him.
''I'll be 'bleeged to go MOTH" he re-
Piled.
'And fght?"
eyes. mother: that's all ez is left.
''And you'll fight agin Pike?'
''I'll fight agin his side, but eff SO be
hit comes in my way to help him, I'll dc
hit jest as if thar had never come no
wah," said Jack hoarsely.
The Preparations for Jacks flight
were as sudden as the act that made it
necessity.
''Let that stranger loose after I've had
| a good START" he said.
| Mrs. Hurd sobbed and chung to him.
| She loved Pike as much as she did her
| firstborn, but Jack had become more
essential to her. Ever since reaching
manhood he had taken from her shout
ders the burden she had borne SO long
and so uncomplainingly. ''They mout "a
left me onel Oh, God! they mout "a left
me oney' sobbed the poor woman.
Jack kissed his mother and sister and
there were rings of moisture about his
gray eyes as he turned away from the
house and set his face to the hills sweep
ing off in rugged ridges to the north.
After he had been gone an hour or
| =
who at once made his way to the rem
devious at Williams store. Here there
were forty Confederate soldiers guard
ing about the same number of noun
taineers who had been conscripted that
day.
The news of the killing Of Captain
Field created a great sensation at the
store and forced on the people a realiza-
ton of the fact that the war had actual
ly come to these mountains.
A detail was dispatched to Mrs. Hurd's
to bring back the body, and every guard
that could be well spared was sent into
the mountains to capture Jack Hurd,
and Williams, the storekeeper, who had
strong southern sympathies, declared
that they'd shave to kill Jack to bring
him back without danger"
Mr.. Williams had two bloodhounds,
and at his suggestion these creatures
were taken down to the Widow Hurd's
and placed on the trail of the fugitive.
1.-THE hounds may come up with my
| Jack" said the widow when the dogs
started off, "but they won't make nothin
by hit, nor will them ez follers the
trail"
If Jack had had time to advise with
his Union neighbors, he might have had
company in his fight, but he knew that
his safety depended on his getting out
of the state as soon as possible. Like all
| the mountaineers, he was fast and a
tireless walker, and he had the advan-
tage of knowing all the trails up to the
| Kentucky line, and even as far north as
| Cumberland.
For forty eight hours he kept on, halt.
ing now and then at some spring to
| quench his thirst and to eat sparingly of
the supply Of bread and meat his sister
had thoughtfully placed in his haver-
sack. But there is a limit to the endur-
ance of even so strong and resolute a
man as Jack Hurd. It was near sunset
when he left home, and the third sun
was setting to the left when he lay down
to rest, with a towering rock at his back
and clear space in front.
He slept long and soundly, for when
he awoke the light of another day was
turning to opal the clouds resting on
the higher peaks. Indeed, he might have
! Slepb sti1l longer nau ne not Deen ruQely
disturbed by the whimpering Of the
leashed hounds and the loud voices of
men.
He sprang to his feet and reached for
his rifle, which he had left resting
against the rock at his back, but it was
in the hands of another man, and it's
muzzle was pointed at his heart. He
threw back his hand to his pistol belt,
but stern voice called out:
''Ha, drop that 'ar pistol, Jack Hurd,
or yer dead mani"
~
- y 7sat 81, ~
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