Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-03-03


saw the dim outlines of several men
suddenly start up from the grass not
twenty yards away
"Who goes there?' repeated the voice.
"Halt, or we'll tire!"
Fanny knew in an instant that she had
been discovered by the dreaded cattle.
men, but no thought Of surrendering
herself to them entered her breast. She
made no answer to the challenge. but
leaning forward she struck her horse
sharp blow with the picket rope which
she held coiled in her hand. Quick as
flash the animal bounded forward and
sped swiftly across the prairie. AT the
same instant the loud crack Of firearms
broke the stiffness of the night, and tho
spiteful whiz of bullets sounded close to
Fanny's head.
Luckily mono Of the bullets took ef-
feet, and lying fiat upon her horses neck
she dashed up the slope and had soon
crossed gentle swell that skirted the
ravine.
A succession Of bitter oaths came from
the discounted men as they saw the
rider gallop swiftly away untouched 10y
their bullets. Owing to the darkness
they had been unable to discover
whether it was man or woman that was
mounted upon the horse, but they had
rightly guessed that it was some one
from the inn who was trying to escape
to the settlement.
This was sufficient to rouse the cattle
mon to immediate action. After all the
pains they had taken to wreak vengeance
upon the settlers garrisoned at the inn,
the very thought that they were about
to be outwitted at the last drove them
into rage and desperation.
Fanny knew that the men We're moi
mounted, aud it was likely that their
horses were some distance from where
she had seen them. Urging her horse
forward at the top of his speed she had
soon crossed the iittle hill and WAS be-
You'd the sight OF her pursuers. That she
would be pursued as soon as the men
could get tA2lr horses she felt COnv!n Ccd,
and ii VS. her purpose to pat us much
distance between herself ana the Toe as
possible while she had chance.
The horse ghe rode was noble AMI.
nal, gentle but high spirited and fleet
OF limb, cGplblc Of grc..t spe>d and en-
durancc. For fad TWO miles Fanny rode
at rapid rate before she dared slacken
her speed. Then pulling her horse into
slow canteY, Sic l.s.-.4Sd for sounds Of
pursuit.
For Il moment she could detect no
soUud save the inulnur Of the night
wind through the long gruso lAcu
there came a low ronlDhns sound from
bchiMd c.at resanlluI the roll Of distant
thunder The rumUling so1nd grew
louder and louder. TaeA CHANGING back
ware Fanny ultll+i Il low cry OF terror
a. she stN tiie dI.n outlines OF a sq,".d
u mounted men tAunuerIus dow Il upon
her.
rs il aware of the danger that threat
encd hiS Young rider, the horse spraui;
forward with the uimblenoss Of deer
and was away like the wind. The sud-
d-u plune5 caused the TERMED girl to
sway fr,n size to siue, almost losing;
her seal. Wuh IN involuntary move
ment she leaned forward, clutchins the
horses man with one hand and holding
the rope reins tightly in the other.
The movolu-n- of her body caused her
to pail suddenly upon the rcins, AS She
did SO she fell Gaick loosenlng of tIa
rope; then it slipped from the horses
head and ft'l dangling at her side. The
horse was bi!dleicss.
There are few horses, however gen
tie, that Do not feel Il sudden thrill of
freedom if released from the restrictions
of the birdie when ridden at full gal
lot l,,l
as the bride slipped from his head, the
horse leapod wildly through the long
grass almost lIt"Wn9 ms rider trols
mel seat and then darted away with the
speed OF the wind
" lth a rry Oi terror at her now help
less situation Fanny clutched the msue
OF the flying horse and held on with
desperate energy while from behind
came the thunderot nuofs III hot pursuit
Before her now lay many miles of un.
broken plaln with not even IA bush to
break the drearY munotuny and across
tbs ner horse sped swiftly on his proud
head tossing from side 10 side us II IL
mOrkerY ot those who came behind
Fanny Riygsby WAS ii good rider and
had spent many Il day IN the saddle, gal
Looping over the pralrle IN search OF bel
father cattle that would often stray
away but She could not help feeling a
sense OF nep!essneSs and terror steal
over her ~ she now found herself upon
the oack OF the spirited horse without
saddle or brldle Without any means OF
guiding the animal she could only trust
TO chance IN Keeping upon the proper
course She knew that there was a set
tlement many miles To the north. and il
was with the hope OF reaching this thai
she mad started IN a uortherly direction
Steady Jet, she cried. leaning for
ward and speaking IN coaxing voice, but
the SPIRITED animal only plunged forward
with renewed speed, leaplng wildly
through the tangled grass and patche:
OF goldenrod that grew in his course
But close behind came the thunder OF
pursuing hoofs, and with a thrill of feal
she realized the necessity of urging hel
horse TO greater speed.