Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-26
@-@

BUT FI.O-I BEHIND THE THUD OF EOoFs
GREW N4iARER.
hand could clinch his reared muzzle the
roam had answered full and strong.
No time to lose ROW! One chance,
and only one!
''Quiclz! the woods road! Remember:
south.-the stone fence,-old Isham!
Quick for yourself!-for little Fairfax
And in echo came from the road:
''Hait! Right about! Forward
7rot! 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 prOmlSed!'
And the boy answered, cheerily:
SEQ on! Faster-for Fairfax's sakei
I'm coming, adding through his
clinched teeth: when I've held them
back long enough to save you!''
The thunder of close hoofs was oppo-
site the scout; the federals, now at a.
charge, strung out as sl1irmishers along
the road. to hem IN their unseen foe.
Without even glance he knew that
their caroines were unslung, and the
least sound would bring &, voIley 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 tee girl was making, too.
Then came the officer, in full career;
and Evan, quickly wheeling his horse,
turned in the saddle and fired at the fly
ing shadows wilhout-once, twice-as
they came into view. Then came a
halt, q rush ofquielz-changed hoofs, and
the crisp twics of the trees about him
hurtled around his ears, as six carbines
simultaneously spoke that their covey
was flushed. Through the s12ow-dirnrned
! woods he saw them crash, he sitting
mot;oniess, half turned in saddle. his
left hand firmly feeling the bit.
His ruse had told. He had drawn off
pursuit IRON the girl; and even then his
trained ear caught the beat of Blazers
| hoofs upon the hard road behind. She
had g2i12c6l the trail and quarter of a
mile start, Now for himself; for the
foremost federal was within twenty
yards Of lis still unseen foe.
| 4 flash Of Tic heavy pistol, a sound
| betvixt d grocn and a roar, and the
| Yankees horse plunged forward to his
knees, rolling his rider in the snow. A
| touch of ti-c sE2l-. u shake of the bit,
and Evans blackwell trained to that
| kind OF y-cr;-N;s5 Glashing southwark
ut half-speed. slzin1rning tree-trtlnl1s
! desperately close, but choosing safest
way wholly unguided. while urged ever
| by spur and voice.
On came the pursuers, strung out
through the dim woods, handicapped by
| heavier mounts and ignorance of the
way. yet CALAMITY pressing after the
| flying eneRy-not knowing if ne were
! one or 4 dozen
| Now and again the carbines rang,
more than one chip OF bark flying near
the scouts head, and one bullet whis-
thing close by his ear. But il was rae
ing aim, and the wood was darker than
| without; 50 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 {
yell and touch of both spurs the scout
gave the black his head and raced fos
freedom.
Then, straight ahead rang out "a dis
tant shot-a pistol, his trained ear told
Evan; and his heart grew as lead, fol
he knew the federal had used the car
bine. The girl had met some check
was fighting her way through.
Iro BE CONTINUED.
THE Zulu women are the architect
j and builders OF their own houses.