The Newtown bee., 1896-05-22

intrepid young rider suddenly wheeled to the right and put this clump of bushes and trees between them and the sol diers.
 Dams movement ill this change or di- l rection was so quick that Harry, tho he had ordered it and was prepared for it, came very near being thrown off, having neither bridle nor saddle to hold on by.
 Bang bang! bang!" went several of the guns again, as soon as the pickets had recovered from their surprise at this un- expected movement. It was impossible t0 take good aim; but Harry felt that the bullets which cut the foliage of the tees about him were uncomfortably close, and he ducked his head as low as he could beside Dams neck. He was well into the woods when the firing stopped, making as rapid progress as he could through the undergrowth, where his be- ing mounted gave him little advantage over his pursuers on foot.
 ''Oh, if I could but get out of the woods, '' he said to himself, "where sDan could make time,"
 lie determined to take the risk of strik- l ing for the road at once; and his heart l gave great leap when at last, after mak- Ing quite circuit, Dan sprang down a | low embankment into the country road where no enemy was in sight. But he was cOngragulating himself too soon.
 When the Confederate general had se- lected the place for his camp that mOrn- ing, he sent back picket guard to the f0rding place at the river. These men heard the picket firing, and when they saw Dan and his rider come dashing down the road with the feetness of the wind, they were ready to receive them. Harry was for the moment nonplussed at the sight of the guard. He could easily have avoided it if he had known that it vas there. But it had not yet taken position when he crossed the river earlier in the morning.
 There was little time for hesitation. ] His progress through the woods had been hindered by the underbrush, so that by the time he reached the road, mounted pursuers had started from the camp. Tho chatter of their horses feet could now be heard iu the distance in the moment that Harry sat irre8olute on Dams back. It was evident that he must run additional risk or give up the struggle.
 Leaping the fence to the right, he struck diagonally across 8 corn field toward the river. Several more fences were iu his path, and also the steep rail- road embankmeut; but Dan made little account of any of these things. The guard at the fort fired several shots, as if to frighten him, but made no move to intercept him. It would seem that they might have done so if they had bestirred themselves. But the spectacle of a horse &nd rider that seemed to disdain the beat rn highway and took no account of fences or any other obstacles in their chosen route, was too much for the guard. They could scarcely do anything more than look on in utter 2maZemeDt.
 Harry plunged into the river at 8 point where fOrdiCg was out of the ques- ton; but Dan knew how to behave in deep water as well as on dry land, and the crossing was safely made.
 The rejoicing was great when Harry and Dan TGappeared iu their own neigh horhO0d, tired almost to the point of ex- hlustiOn, but otherwise safe and sound. Mir SIagle was very proud of Harry's achievement; but there was something characteristic in a remark which he made to Harry in the presence of several of the neighbOrs:
 ''What for, Hendry, you almost preak your neck to get dis good f0r-nothing little c0ldt, undt leave de good vWOrk horses 5ehjndt:-L Tbe Independent