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

MS REVOLVER FLASHED OUT.
whats the matter, Cato" said
CORTLAND, CHANGING instinctivcly at the
ground beneath. speak mani Have
you been bitten?'
The word seemed 10 wiring an agon-
lied cry from the miserable man.
"Bittenl No, but don't you hear 'em
comingl Dart Golly! don't you hear
dat?"
"What?"
"De dogs! dc houn's!--de bloodhoun'sl
Dey'vc set en- loose on mel'
IL was trucl faint baying IN the
distance was now distinctly audible TO
Conrtland He knew now as plainly
the full, cruel purport Of the leaders
speechl "Thosc who could 60 any
whore were tracking their game"
Every trace OF manhood had van
ishcd from the Negroes covering framcl
CORTLAND laid his hand ussuringly,
nppcalingly and then savagely on his
shoulder.
"Comcl Enough Of this! am here,
and will stand by you whatever comes.
than the other Rouse Yourself, man,
and at least help ne make fight for
It,"
"Nol MOI" screamed the terrified
man. "Lcmmo GO! Lomiae go bacl,
to de massasl Tell EN- I'll como! Tell
'cm Co call dc houns OH M, and I'll go
quietl Lcmmc GOT lie struggled
violently in his companions grasp.
with all Courtland's self control, hab-
its Of ccolncss and discipline. Il Is 60 bc
feared there was still something OF the
old Bcrsalscr temper Ills face was
white, his eyes blazcd il the darkness;
only his voice kept that level distinct.
ness which made 10 for q moment more
terrible than ever the baying Of the
tracking hoands 90 the Negroes car.
Cato" he said, "attcnpt 10 run now,
and by God! TN save the dogs the
trouble Of graphing your living car
cass Come hercl Up that tree with
pointing 70 a swamp magnolia
Don't move rs long rs can stand here,
and when I'm down--but not till then
save youraclf-thc best you can"
He half helped, half dragged the now
passive African % the solitary tree; as
the bay Of single hound came nearer.
the negro convulsivcly scrambled from
Courtland's knee and shoulder 70 the
fork Of branches a dozen feet from the
ground CORTLAND drew his revolver
and stopping back few yards into the
open waited the attack.
II camc unexpectedly from behind. A
sudden yclp ~ painting cruelty and
frcuaiel anticipation at Courtlnnd's
back caused him 70 change front quick
ly as the dripping fangs and snalSy boa
like neck Of wicrd gray shadow passed
him. With IN awful supcrnaturalncss
Of instinctit kept on In an uncrrng line
20 the fatcful trccl But that dread
dircctncss 81 scent was Courtland's OPP
portunity. Ills revolver flashed ont In
an aim as uncrring. The brute. pierced
through mock and brain, dashed on
against the tree IN his impetus, and
then rolled over against It IN CULVER
ing bulk. Again cnother bay came
FROM the sano direction. CORTLAND
knew that his pursucrs had outnnnlscd
him and the bloodhounds were crossing
tho swamp. But he was prepared;
again the Hlrae weird shadow, as spec
trail ard monstrous rs n dream, dashed
out into the brief light Of the open, but
this time u Was stopped and rolled over
convulsiycly before II had crossed
Flushed with the Gre Of Eight In his
vcins. CORTLAND turned furious'y from
the fallen brutca 10 meet tho onset Of
the more cownrlly hunters whom he
know were nt his heels. AZ that mo-
mcnt IL would have Jared ill with the
foremost No longer the calculating
steward and diplomatic manager, no
longer the cool-hcadod arbitcr Of con.
nicting interests. ho wns ready % meet
them not only with the intrepid In
stincts OF a soldier but with an aroused
partisan fury equal % their own. To
his surprise no one followed; the baying
Of third hound seemed " DO
silcnccd nnd checked; tho Gilcncc waa
brolscn only by the sound 81 distant
voices and tho uneasy tramp
ling a hoofs. This was followed by
two or three rifle shots. but not either
IN the direction 81 tho quarters nor
the Dows' dwelling house. There cvi-
IDENTIFY WINS some interruption In tho
pursuit-n diversion Of some lsind had
taken plncc-but rhgk he know not.
10 could think of no ono who rlirht
have intorfcrc,l on bis behalf. and the
shouting and wrungiing seemed to be
carried on Ia tho accents Of the ono
sectional party. To called cautiously
10 Cato The negro ed not reply. lie
crossed % the tree and shook II lmpa.
ticntly. Its boughs were empty; Cato