The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-28

with all her strength. In an instant ne
was at her side, and together, hand over
hand, they finally succeeded in pulling
aboard a beautiful dolphin and landed
him, leaping, tapping, splashing madly
about, in the midst of the merry party
on the deck. It was the first time Ruth
had seen the gorgeous hues Of this cele-
brated fish, and her excitement and plea
sure over being heralded as its captor
were most natural. From that time on
she had pinned her girlish faith to the
coat sleeve Of the tall, reserved young
cavalryman. To him she was a child.
even younger by a year than the little
sister he had left, and of whom he soon
began to tell her. To her he was a
young knight Grant, the hero of a bud
ding maiden's shyest, sweetest, fondest
fancy and ere long the idol of the dreams
and thoughts she dared not whisper even
to herself. Paquita, with the wisdom
Of elder sisterhood, more than half be-
lieyed she read the younger's heart, but
wisely held her peace. No wonder the
little maid had so suddenly been 81
fenced by the announcement at the pass
that that very night she might again
see the soldier boy to whom. in the alb
sence of all others, her heart had been
so constant. No wonder the ride for
ward to Moreno's was one of thrilling
excitement and shy delight and antici-
no4.o. Nj -o,,1a~ how s.oocN3o hor
very life, seemed wrecked in the tragic
fate that there befell them.
And now as he rode swiftly in pursuit
Drummond was thinking over the IN
cidents Of that delightful voyage, and
marvelling at the strange fate that had
brought the Harvey girls again into his
life and under circumstances so thrill
ing. Never for al instant would he
doubt that before the sun could reach
meridian lie should oyertake and rescue
them from the hands of their cowa1dly
captors. Never would he entertain the
thought Of sustained defense on the part
of the outlaw band. Full of high con-,
tempt for such cattle, he argued that
no sooner were they assured that the
cavalry were close at their heels than
most of their number would scatter fer
their lives, leaving Pasqual to his fate,
and probably abandoning the wagons
and their precious contents on the road.
A sudden dash, a surprise, would in
sure success. The only fear he had was
that in the excitement Of attack some
harm might befall those precious lives.
To avert this he gave orders to be pass
ed back along the column to fire no shot
until they had closed with the band.
and then to be most careful to aim wide
of the wagons. Every man in the little
troop we'll knew how much was at
stake, and men, all mercy to their
beasts at other times. We're how plying
the. cruel spur.
Five, 6 o'clock had come and gone.
The chase was still out of sight ahead,
yet every moment seemed to bring them
closer upon their heels. At every bend
Of the tortuous trail the leaders eye
was strained to see the dust cloud ris-
ing ahead. But jutting point and roll
ing shoulder of bluff or hillside ever in
terposed. Drummond had just glanced
at his watch for perhaps the twentieth
time since daybreak and was replacing
it in his pocket when an exclamation
from Sergeant Meinecke startled him.
Look at Lee!"
ITO BE Continued