Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-09
| Violently In his companlon.s grasp.

with all Courtland's self control, hab-
its Of ccolness and discipline, 10 Is 10 be
feared there was still something Of the
old Bcrsalser temper. His face was
white, his eyes blnzed In the darkness;
only his voice kept that level distinct
ness which made II for moment more
terrible than ever the baying Of the
tracking hounds TO the negro's ear.
Cato" he said, attempt 10 run now,
and by Godi I'll save the dogs the
trouble Of graphing your living car.
cassl Come herel Up that tree with
youl"-pointing TO n swamp magnolia
Don't move as long as can stand here,
and when I'm down--but not till then
save yourself-the best You can"
He half helped, half dragged the now
passive African 10 the solitary tree; as
the bay OF n single hound came nearer,
the negro convulsively scrambled from
Courtlands knee and shoulder TO the
fork OF branches dozen feet from the
ground. CORTLAND drew his revolver
and stepping back a few yards into the
open waited the attack.
II came unexpectedly from behind. A
sudden yelp OF painting cruelty and
frenzied anticipation at Courtlands
back caused him to change front quick
ly as the dripping fanRs and snaky boa
like neck of wierd gray shadow passed
him. With an awful supernaturalncs
OF instinct II kept on in an unerring line
TO the fateful treel But that dread
directness OF scent was Courtland's OPP
portunity. His revolver flashed out In
an aim as unerring. The brute, pierced
through neck and brain, dashed on
against the tree in his impetus, and
then rolled over against IL in n culver.
ing bulk. Again another bay came
from the same direction. CORTLAND
know that his pursucrs had outllanlted
him and the bloodhounds were crossing
the swamp. But he was prepared;
again the same weird shadow, as spec.
trail and monstrous as dream, dashed
out into the brief light OF the open, but
this time II was stopped and rolled over
convulsively before II had crossed.
Flushed with the fire OF Eight In his
veins, CORTLAND turned furiously from
the fallen brutcs 10 meet the onset OF
the more cowardly hunters whom he
knew were at his heels. At that mo-
ment IL would have Jared i'll with the
foremost. No longer the calculating
steward and diplomatic manager, no
longer the cool-headed arbiter OF con-
ilicting interests, he was ready 10 meet
Thorn not only with the intrepid in
stincts of soldier but with an aroused
partisan fury equal TO their own. To
his surprise no one followed; the baying
of n third hound seemed 20 be
silenccd and checked; the silence was
broken only by the sound Of distant
disputing voices and the uneasy tramp
ling OF hoofs. This was followed by
two or three rife shots, but not either
In the direction OF the quarters nor
the BOWS dwelling house. There evil
IDENTIFY wns some interruption In the
pursuit--a diversion OF some kind had
taken place--but Uhat, he knew not.
lie could think Of no one who might
have interfered on his behalf. and the
shouting and wrangling seemed to be
carried on In the accents 81 the one
sectional party lie called cautiously
TO Cato The negro did not reply. lie
crossed TO the tree and shook II impn.
ticntly. Its boughs were empty; Cat,
was gonc Tho miserable negro must
have taken advantage Of the first di.
version in his favor to escape. Hut
where and how there was nothing left
TO indicate.
Az CORTLAND had taken little note Of
the trail, he had no idea of his own
whereabouts. lie knew he must re-
turn TO the fringe of cypress to be able
TO cross the open field and gain the
negro quarters, where IL was still pos
sible that Cato had fled. Taking gen.
eral direction from the few stars Wis
ible above the opening he began TO re-
trace his steps. Rut he had no longer
the Negroes woodcrnft 70 guide him. At
times his feet were caught In trailing
vines which seemed to coil around his
ankles with ominous suggcstivencss, at
times the yielding soil beneath his
tread showed his perilous proximity
to the swamp, as well MS the
fact that he were beginning 10 in
cline towards that dread circle,
which Is the hopeless instinct of all
lost and staying humanity, Luck
lily the edge Of the swamp was more
open, and he would be enabled TO cor
rect his changed course again by the
position of the stars. But he was be-
coming chilled and exhausted by these
fruitless efforts, and ut length, after u
more devious and prolonged detour,
which brought him back 10 the swamp
again, he resolved to skirt its edge in
search OF some other mode OF issuance
Beyond him, the light seemed stronger
as of more extended opening or clear
ing, and there was even n superficial
CLEAN from the end Of the swamp itself
as II from some ignis fatuus, or the
glnncing of pool of unbroken water.
A few yards farther brought him TO II,
and a full view OF tho unencumbered
expanse. Beyond him far across the
swamp rose n hillside bathed in the
moonlight, with symmetrical lines Of
small white squares dotting its slopes
and stretching down into valley of
cleaning shafts, pyramids, and tombs,
II was the cemetery; tho white squares
on the hillside were the soldiers graves.
And among them, even at that distance,
uplifting solemnly like n reproachful
phantom, was the broken shaft above
the dust OF Chester Brooks.
With the view Of that fateful spot
which he had not seen since his last
meeting there with Sally Bows, a flood
OF recollection rushed upon him. In
the white mist that hung low along the
further edge Of the swamp he fancied
he could see again the battery smoke
through which the ghostly figure Of the
dead rider had charged his gun three
years beforei in the bending white