San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-18

baronet, as we walked off.
eyes," said Brent. "Trust him tc
gnaw himself free with that Connection.
rat tail"
"Ham against Japhet; l hope he'll
win" \ 4 =
"What horse beyond all horses yours
is!' said Biddulph to me next morning,
as we rode along cheerily through the
fresh, frosty air of December. think,
when your continent gets to its finality
in horsefesh, you will beat our island"
"Think what training such trip is!
This comrade of mine has come two
thousand miles with me-big thought,
eh!-and he freshens up with the ozone
of this morning as if he had been in the
stable week, champing asphodel."
Fulano felt my commentator. He
became electrified. He stirred under
me. gave him rein. He shook him
self out and began to recite his accom-
plishments.
He doubled his legs under him and
went off in high, jerky leaps, twice his
length every one.
He numbered along, shoulders low,
head handled like battering ram and
tail stiff out like steering oar.
And he shambled forward in loose
jointed canter, looking back furtively
like thief, sorry he didn't stop to steal
the other goose, but expecting Stop
thief! every minute.
The day, after the crisp freshness of
its beginning, was a belated day of In
dian summer; mild as the golden morn
ings of that calm, luxurious time. We
stopped to noon in sunny spot of open
pasture near a wide muddy slough of
the Missouri.
We camped by fallen cottonwood
near the slough. The atmosphere was
hopeful. We picknicked merrily, men
and beasts. "Three gentlemen at once"
over a chicken soon dissipated this and
its trimmings. We lighted the tranquil
calumet and lounged, watching our
horses at their corn.
Presently we began to fancy we heard,
then to think we heard, at last to be sure
we heard the baying of hounds through
the mild, golden air.
"Tally-ho" cried Biddulph, "what a
day for a fox hunt! This haze will
make the scent lie almost as well as the
Clouds"
"Music! Music!'' cried he again, spring
ing up, as the sound, increasing. rose and
fell along the peaceful air that lay on
earth so lovingly.
Music, if it were in Merrie England,
where the hunt are gentlemen. A cursed
uproar here, where the hunt are man
stealers," said Brent.
"No," said Biddulph. "Those are fables
of the old, barbarous days of the Maroons
l can't believe in dogs after men until l
see it."
I'm afraid it's our friend Ham they
are after. This would be his line of es-
cape"
At the word, rustling in the bushes
along the slough, and Ham burst through.
He turned to run. We shouted. He knew
us and flung himself, livid with terror
and painting with fight, on the ground
at our feet-the poplar nigger!"
"Oh, NASAL" he gasped. "Dey's gone
cot the dogs ON me. WhatT do?"
"Can you SWIM" said for to me he
was kneeling.
mo, massa; or I'd been across this yer
sloo fore dis"
Scan you rider"
"Reck'n / kin, massa."
A burst of baying from the hounds.
The black shook with terror.
sprang to Fulano. "Work for you,
old boyr said I to him, as flung the
snaffle over his head.
"Here, Ham, up with you! Put across
the slough. He swims like an alligator.
Then make for the north star, and leave
the horse for Mr.. Richard Wade, at the
fremont House, Chicago. Treat him like
brother, Ham,
'Lor bress you, massa! 1 will dat"
He vaulted up.
Fulano splashed in and took deep
water magnifcently.
The baying came closer, closer on his
trail.
Two thirds across.
The baying ceased. The whole pack
drew long wall.
"They see him." said Biddulph.
Almost acrossl A dozen more plunges,
Fulano!
A crowd of armed men on horseback
dashed up to the bank two hundred
yards above us. 1t was open where they
halted. They could not see us among
the bushes on the edge of the slough.
One of them pointed his rife quick
and steady. Horse and man, the fugi-
tives, were close to the bank and the
thicket of safety.
Pingl
Almost over. as the rifle cracked, Ham