Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-10-05

BUT FROM BEHIND THE rHUD OF HOOPS
GREW NEARER.
hand could clinch his reared muzzle the
roam had answered full and strong.
No time to lose now! One chance,
and only one!
"Ouick! the woods road! Remember:
south,-the stone fence,-old Isham!
Quick! for yourself:-for little Fairfax"
And in echo came from the road:
"Halt! Right aboutl Forward
Trot! MARCH,
Instantly the girl wheeled her horse,
trotting rapidly between trees for the
narrow road-the reversed scouting.
party moving fast towards them.
guided by the neigh. Once she turned
crying:
''Come! Evan, you promised"
And the boy answered, cheerily:
go on! Faster-for Fairfax's sake
I'm coming,"-adding through his
clinched teeth: when I've held them
back long enough to save your
The thunder of close hoofs was oppo-
site the scout; the federals, now at a
charge, strung out as slkirmishers along
the road, to hem in their unseen foe.
Without even q glance he knew that
their carbines were unslung, and the
least sound would bring a volley to drop
him out of saddle. From the vantage
darkness Of his covert, he saw the first
four dash by, straight for the little
trail for which the girl was making, too.
Then came the officer, in full career;
and Evan, quickly wheeling his horse,
turned in the saddle and fred at the fly.
=
they came into view. Then came a
halt, rush of quick-changed hoofs, and
the crisp twigs of the trees about him
hurtled around his ears, as six carbines
simultaneously spoke that their covey
was flushed. Through the snow-dimmed
woods he saw them crash, he sitting
motionless, half turned in saddle, his
left hand firmly feeling the bit.
His ruse had told. He had drawn of
pursuit from the girl; and even then his
trained ear caught the beat of Blazers
hoofs upon the hard road behind. She
had gained the trail and a quarter of a
mile start! Now for himself; for the
foremost federal was within twenty
yards of his still unseen foe.
A flash of the heavy pistol, a sound
betwixt groan and a roar, and the
Yankees horse plunged forward to his
knees, rolling his rider in the snow. A
touch of the spur, a shake of the bit,
and Evans blackwell trained to that
kind of rvork-was dashing southwark
at half-speed, skimming tree-trunks
desperately close, but choosing safest
way wholly unguided, while urged ever
by spur and voice.
n 49,
through the dim woods, handicapped by
heavier mounts and ignorance of the
way, yet gallantly pressing after the
flying enemy-not knowing if he were
one or a dozen.
Now and again the carbines rang,
more than one chip of bark flying near
the scouts head, and one bullet whis-
ting close by his ear. But it was rae
ing aim, and the wood was darker than
without; so Evan stuck to the shelter as
long as he might, before striking out
into the woods trail. He was gaining
on the federals, too; and fainter beat Of
hoofs in front, and fainter still, told
him that Carolyn Clay was past pursuit
was safe at last!
Into the road he dashed; into the road
soon strung the pursuit; and with q
yell and touch of both spurs the scout
gave the black his head and raced for
freedom
Then, straight ahead rang out dis
tant shot-a pistol, his trained ear told
Evan; and his heart grew rs lead, for
he knew the federal had used the car.
bine. The girl had met some check
was fighting her way through!
no BE Continued
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