Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-07-12


teen miles in time. Bourdo, he knew,
would take the young brown mare their
only horse. Even now he was grooming
her in the stable. Pierre was almost in
despair, when he remembered that old
Jules, their neighbor, had horse. To be
sure, it was old and somewhat stiff, but it
was better than nothing. He would at
once go to Jules ana ask for the horse. But
moments were precious, and there was no
time for explanations. lie knew where the
animal was pastured, and must take it
without asking. Soon he had caught the
old gray, slipped bride over its head, and
scorniug a saddle was bestride his steed.
Plover Pierre did not know the country
WELL but he was sure of the general direc-
ton in which st. Adams lay. As he gal
loped along, Pierre grew excited, and was
filed with joyous enthusiasm. The small
figure on the gauut gray horse was perhaps
a travesty on his vision of cavalry officer
dashing at the head of his troops, but the
boy was satisfied His mission was a re-
sponsible one, and he was working for the
cause in which he burned to distinguish
himself.
He had pushed the flag under his jacket.
Now he took it out, and tied it about him
like an officers sash The people at the
few farm-houses along the road stared at
this appartion. After he had travelled
what seemed to him long distance, he got
into a country were there were no farm
houses. The land was hilly, rough, and
used for pasturage alone.
Pierre had no watch, but he thought it
must be nearly six o'clock. This could
not be the main road to st. Adams. He
climbed high hills and looked about, but he
could see no village spires. While watch
ing from one of these hills, he saw, far to
the westward, a body of horsemen cantcr-
ing along smooth road.
Pierre's heart sank within him. These
were the raiders, and he was too late. His
opportunity had come, and he had failed
Discouraged and limp in body, he rode
sadly down to the highway where he had
seen the horsemen, and followed it back
toward his home.
As the raiders dashed through the out
skirts of St. Adams, the people stared in
establishment at the cavalcade Of wild-look-
ing men carrying caIbines, and with PTS
tolls stuck in their belts. Jean Bourdo,
dressed as an Indian chief, all his dull wits
sharpened by excitement, led them on.
They rode into the midst of the town.
The villagers, unconscious of danger did
not modest them. Bourdo pointed out the
different banks: these had closed for the
day to the public, but the bookkeepers
were still at their desks. The raiders over
powered them, broke open the safes, and
took what money they could hastily gath
er.
In half an hour they were galloping
| away, firing their pistols as they went.
| one citizen who appeared AT his doorstep
was shot and killed. But most of the bul-
lets were fired high into the air. They
| soon passed the last house, and rapidly
moved northward over the same road which
| Pierre had taken on his return home.
Jules's old horse was growing more and
more lame. 1t was unshod, and this long
| journey had made its feet tender. Pierre
did not like to urge it too much, and so
had to be satisfied with slow trot. The
night would now have been quite dark had
not a crescent moon shed an uncertain
| light on the brown fields, and fingered
about the bright silk which hung from the
shoulder of a small boy perched on tall
gray horse.
Dark patches of woodland bordered the
road and when Pierre was passing one OF
these, which he thought not far from his
home, he heard gathering of hoofs be-
| hind him. He did not expect the raiders
In return so soon hut he ihouoht if mus-
no tbev Tho how feared IN L., Rourdo SOC
him.
A wood road led into the bushes, and
| piarre ri1irg into his darl racass halted
| coma tuant,. rards iron, tLo rood ~ Iot III,
| borse,ren nass His horse was hidden IA,
! shaJnrrs. hn, tho Ii,,I, moon sIiJ dnu,,
| bat,,oo,, Tho a,.orgr,ors ard In ~, Tho 90,
colors of tho Aao
,rio rai,iars - ri,li,,, roo,.los.l,. si,,,,
irr and sbontic, TLGy yare bil,rinI,
With success TWo yonny, fellows hrnu,,L,
nm tho rear of the GaIIoHinc col,nn
stpor,led oyrI 4anned oyor their heads oni
ono ain,od his carhirn Of Tho slowly ,nn,,ino
bird
,.iir, &c u..,d ma ,rl,rs ,o, f., fro T.,
h,ir,, don', that fallou., :,
,.if ,,.a,,taJ ~ sLno, =. ro,,,r,ol lin,
| ora 'ar1ar. fr,,,, No man IN,
loal, i,,n',lis ,,,b Don,, ,Iat lo,l, III.
49,, tI,i,,,, ti..,.F ".ii -, d., ~, 100 IL,
sto,,rn5 Iis L9r., - rida ana ,ir..i
X, t,ra ras,,r,,,i ti..ir ,,,llI,a,,J ca,,.,i,
~, Vim tI ,,,ai Loi,, IT, ,,, Ii
al hal, anariI,, bnt IA MOT s,n,i ~ r.,,,,,,
strare A'ir raaIi,, tho sbar, oar of Ioa,
Rnnrjo had ca%cht ,,o' s",i,d ~ nrrsrin,
LIrsos H. 49, n,,l,, ,,,o ',iins sr,,
,i,a Conod, ~. r.i,,,, ;ro,,,, ,f h,rsa,,,,,
a,,,,ooraI on H., trnn, 80 ~ KIN - sLor, AZ
,a,fna hot,ind Hon,
Tho rniLars mn, s,,,r +o THAN borsos.
the hetter animals rpesnonded hrt SOM,
conld NOT and tLoir riddrs ward o,.artol,on
made nrisonars and MART If The monel 70 .,
noraro5 Tho hottor- ponntod man nlca,lo,
into Canada tbev tnn ynre anaiiy cani,r
cd and most of The hootv retnrne1 tG IN,