The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-09-29

a will. AS the maddened animal
dashed by, one of the m~oonshiners
sprang forward and attempted to sefzo
the bride rein, but was thrown to the
ground and trampled to death. The
other two seeing the fate of their com
rade, raised their rifles, but ere their
finger had pressed the trigger, Hugh
Caravan and his fair charge disap
paared from view around the bend in
the mountain path. Thus, frustrated
and b. flied, the two moonshiners ran
into the underground, mounted their
horses, and g few moments later were
in hot pursuit.
Hugh was just congratulating him
self on his bold dash and it's successful
termination when the flying hoofs of
his pursuers fell upon his ears.
Rose heard those danger signals, too,
and instinctively drew nearer to Hugh.
Neither spoke, but both realized the
danger that threatened them. The
path here turned off to the right, leav-
ing the mountain side and entering the
valley below, where, for two or three
miles, it ran in an almost horizontal
line between two mountain ranges
to Stony Point. a barren, rocky peak,
rising far ahead of them at the entrance
to the cannon, or the Valley of the
Whistling Winds, as the place was
called. There were no crooks Or turns
in the pathway that led through this
clearly swept pass to protect them
from the balls of the pursuers' rf IS.
Louder grew the clatter in the rear.
falling with startling distinctness
upon the ears of the flying fugltives.
Rose glanced behind her.
'They are conf y. " she whispered;
there are two of them.
Hugh turned and looked over his
shoulder. Y s. there we're two of them.
Tney we're Est entering the valley, not
more than three hundred yards in their
rear. He looked ahead. Stony Point
doomed in view-but far away. Once Oe-
hind that rocky fortress, with the rife
that he had, he felt that he could defy
any number of men in that narrow
ravine. With his eyes still fastened
upon the stony cliff, he asked:
Are they gaining any, you think7'
RISE looked back. Yes, very rap
idly" she answered
How far in the rear do you think
they area"
Not more than two hundred yards"
she answered.
Nearer and nearer drew their pursu-
ers. The valley resounded, echoed
and re-echoed, with the CHATTER and
ring of flying horses boots upon the
hard, stony mountain path. Louder
they grew-cl Glitter c~latter, Glitter clat
ter-clank, clank, clank.
Hugh piled the rawhide until the
blood ran in streams from the side of
the foam covered steed. Onward they
dashed like wind It was a ride for
life. He urged the horse to it's utmost
speed, but to no purpose. Their
pursuers were gaining upon them
rapidly. They were mounted upon
fresh horses. The one that he rode
had carried a double burden for a
half hour or more past, and now was
all but played cut. He again piled
the shining lash, but with no percep
tible increase in speed Of the noble
animal. There was whOop behind
them and instantaneously the sharp
report of a riff rang out, and the next
moment a bali whizz9d past the flying
fugitives. Rose trembled. Hugh
groaned:
I'VE are lost" he said; "our horse
is done for"
TIE words were scarcely out OF his
mouth when the animal stumbled and
fell to the ground dead. There was a
loud cheer from the pursuing moon
sinners. Onward they came. For
tunately neither Hugh nor r )se were
hurt by the fall and were on their feet
in a moment.
90 lick !" cried Hugh. Follow
mel"
He ran toward and dropped fat upon
the ground behind the fallen horse
Rose followed his example. He then
hastily untastend the rife from the
saddle strop and raising it he took de-
liberate aim at the foremost moon,
sinner who was now not more than fifty
yardsaWay, dashing onward to certain
death. Rose closed her eyes, knowing
what would follow. She could not volun-
tarilv witness the death of a fe low be-