Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-01-20

rough palingS-croSSed the field. With
the moon low on the other side of it, ii
was mere black silhouette, broken
| only by bright, silver openings and
| gaps along it's surface that indicated
the moonlit field beyond. At first
CORTLAND saw nothing else. Then he
was struck by the fact that these open
ings became successfully and regularly
eclipsed as with the passing of some
opaque objects behind them. 1t was q
file of men on the other side of the
fence, keeping in its shelter as they
crossed the field towards his house.
Roughly calculating from the passing
dissertations, there must have been
twelve or fifteen in all.
He could no longer doubt their COM
bined intentions, nor hesitate how to
meet it. He must at once make for the
quarters with Cato, even if he had to
cross that open field before them. He
knew that they would avoid injuring
him personally, in the fear of possible
federal and political complications, and
he resolved to use that fear to insure
Cato's safety. Placing his hands on
the Negroes shoulder, he showed him
forward, falling into clock step" so
close behind him that it became i'm
impossible for the most expert marks
man to fire at one without imperiling
the others life. When half way across
the field he noticed that the shadows
seen through the openings of the fence
had paused. The ambushed men had
evidently seen the double apparition,
understood it, and, as he expected,
dared not fire. He reached the other
side with Cato in safety, but not before
he saw the fateful shadows again NOV
ing. and this time the other way.
They were evidently intending to
follow the fugitives. But Eonce within
the woods CORTLAND knew that his
chances were equal. He breathed more
freely. Cato, not less agitated, had
even rCgaincd something of his former
emotional combativeness, which Court
land had checked. Although far from
confident of his henchman's prowess in
an emergency, the prospect of getting
him safe into the quarters seemed
brighter.
1t was necessary also to trust to his
superior woodcraft and knowledge of
the locality, and CORTLAND, still walk
ing between him and his pursuers and
covering his retreat, allowed him to
lead the way. 1t lay over ground that
was beginning to slope gently; the I'M
derbrush was pres emily exchanged for
springy moss; the character of the
trees changed; the black trunks of cv-
presses made the gloom thicker. Trail
ing vines and parasites brushed their
faces, n current of damp air seemed to
flow just above the soil, in which their
lower limbs moved sluggiShly as
through running water. AS yet there
was no indication of pursuit. But
Cnurtlaud felt that it was not aban-
,loncd. Indeed he had barely time to
cheek an exclamation from the negro
before the dull gallop of households in
the open ahead of them was plain to
both of them. 1t was a second party of
their pursuers, mounted, who had evil
IDENTIFY been sent to prevent their final
egress from the woods, while those they
had just evaded were no doubt slowly
and silently following them on foot.
They were to be caught between two
fires!
what is there to the left of us?''
whispered CORTLAND, quickly.
''De swamp"
CORTLAND set his teeth together His
dull-witted companion had evidently
walked them both into the trap.
Nevertheless, his resolve was quickly
made. He could already see through
the thinning fringe of timber the fig
ures of the mounted men in the moon
light.
This should be the boundary line of
the plantation? This field beside us is
ours?" he said, interrogatively.
YES" returned the negro, "but de
quarters is a mile furder."
'Goodl Stay here until I come back
or call you. I'm going to talk to these
fellows. But if you value your life
don't you speak or STIR"
He strobe quickly through the inter
vening trees and stepped out into the
moonlight. A suppressed shout greeted
him and half dozen mounted men,
masked and carrying rifles, rode down
towards him. But he remained quietly
waiting there and as the nearest ap-
preached him he made step forward
and cried: "Haltr'
The men pulled up sharply and me-
chemically at that ring of military i'm
periousness.
''What are you doing here?" said
CORTLAND.
1--WE reckon that's our business,
con'nle."
Its mine when you're on property
that control"