The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-03-03


/ seen fhroaeh The opening OF the fence
/ had panrcd The nmbushcd men had
evidently seen The double arparitlon.
understood II. and, ns he expected,
dared not Gre. To reached tho other
side with Cato Ia safcty, but not before
he saw tho fatcfnl ehnlows again NOV
lnr. and this time the other way.
Tlry were evidently Intending TO
follow tho fngitivca But Eoncc within
the woods CQurtland knew that his
chances were equal lie breathed moro
freely Cato. not less agitated. had
even rcgaincd something Of his former
emotional combatlvcncss. which Court
land had checked Although far from
confident OF his hcnchmaB's prowess in
an emergency, the prospect OF getting
him safe into tho quarters seemed
brighter.
II was necessary also 10 trust 10 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
isnd the way, IL lay over ground that
was beginning TO slope gently; the un-
derbrnsh was presently exchanged for
springy moss; tho character OF tho
trees changed; the black trunks Of cy-
presses made the gloom thicker. Trail
Ing vines and parasites brushed their
faces, q current OF damp air seemed 10
flow Just above the soil. in which their
lower limbs moved sluggishly rs
through running water. AS yet there
1 II Ia
CORTLAND felt that IL was not nban-
doncd Indeed he had barely time TO
check an exclamation from the negro
before the dull gallop Of households in
the open ahead OF them was plain 10
both OF them. IL was n second party Of
their pursuers, mounted, who had evil
.lcntly been sent 20 prevent their final
cgress from the woods, while those they
had Just cvadcd were no doubt slowly
and silently following them on foot.
They were 10 be caught between two
frcsl
what Is there TO the left Of us?"
whispered CORTLAND, quickly.
"Dc swamp
CORTLAND set his teeth together. His
dull-wittcd companion had evidently
walked them both into the trap.
Nevertheless, his resolve was quickly
made lie could already sec through
the thinning fringe OF timber the fig
ures Of the mounted men In the noon
light.
This should be the boundary line OF
the plantation2 This field beside us II
ours2" he said, lnterrogativcly.
"Ycs," returned the negro, but de
quarters is q mile furdcr."
"Goodl Stay here until come back
or call you. I'm going to talk TO these
fellows. But II you value your life
don't you speak or stir"
He strobe quickly through the inter
ycning 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 lac remained quietly
waiting there and as the nearest APP
preached him he made a step forward
and cried: HALT"
The men pulled up sharply and me-
chemically at that ring of military inn
pcriousness.
what are you doing hereP" said
Courtland.
1--WE reckon that's our business,
connie"
ITS mine when you're on property
that control"
The man hesitatel and looked inter
rogativcly toward his fellows. ~ al
low you've got us there, con'nlc," hc
said at last with lazy insoloncc OF
conscious power "but don't mind tell
Ing you that we're wanting a niggcr
about the size OF your Cato. We hain't
got anything Ggin g0u, cunnle; ye
don't want 70 interfere with y0ar prop
crty and goRr ways, but we don't cal
culate TO have strangers interfere with
cur ways and oar customs Trot out
Your niggtr-you thin folks don't
call hin property, you lnow-and
wen clear off your land"
and may ! ask what you want OF
Caro?" said CORTLAND, quietly.
ITO show him that All the federal
law ia HI won't protect him when he
strikes "a white mau!" burst out one Of
the masked figures, riding forward.
"Thcn you compel me TO show gou,"
said CORTLAND, immovably, what any
federal citizen may do in defense OF fed
oral law. For I'll kin the first man
that attempts 20 lay hands upon him on
my property. Some Of You who have
already tried 60 assassinate him IN cold
blood, in your own limits, | have met
before In less dishonorablo warfare
than this, and ncy know am able TO
keep my word"
There was n moments silence; the
barrel Of the revolver he was holding
~ -. ~ 40
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