Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-07-05

With a glance around to get his bear
ings he pushed on at rapid trOt to the
open country. thinking this gait more
proper for the half-formed plan he had
against the coming and unavoidable
emergency. He knew the locality, but
not so well as he could have desired.
THE lines are some place about
here" he muttered half aloud. What
shall do? Trust to dash to take me
through or abandon the horse and try
It on foot? | must decide before the
pickles.
Halt! Who comes?" The gruff COM
mand rang out from ten feet ahead,
where shadowy form had suddenly
risen from the darkness Of the open
field
"Friendw called Nathan, and with
that he drove the stirrups so hard that
his horse bounded forward on gailop
straight for the dumbfounded sentry
There was futile shot in the air, a yell
of pain and then the Britisher was down
under the cruel hoofs.
Nathan and his gailoping steed swept
on. while behind them the night blazed
with red flashes and echoed to musket
shots oaths and scurrying feet. "Safe
at lastw the lad cried exultantly, ana
even as he spoke a jangle OF equipments
and a patter of hOofs on the turl gave
the lie TO his words. He had sluihOieu
mot ON one or two plckets, but on d
dismOunted patrolling party Watchlhg
for deserters who had been slipping OH
200 frequently Of late through this weak
,,o,.t Of the liues-mostly Hesslans VINO
nod taken a fancy to the country.
Nathan did not lose heart, black as
bie chances seemed. He urged his
horse TO its top speed, and the noDle
animal did gallantly. For five minutes
tho chase Numbered on, the enemy
slowly. but surely gaining. A g-ance
showed the lad that his pursuers were
less than eighty yards behind and when
no looked forward again 1t was to see
the river Schuylkill looming, dark ana
quiet. under the canopy OF stars.
No time to hesitate. Over and down
the bluff plunged horse and rider, their
disappearance being the signal for
rain of bullets. Splash! splash! they
were in the water now and the gallant
steed was breasting the waves and cur
rent as he swan towards the opposite
bank and safety with the lad out of the
saddle and clinging to the flowing name.
Now they we're at midstream-the
river was quite narrow-and from the
rear bank the halted dragons opened
fire. Crack! crack crack! the balls
whistled and spluttered harmlessly. 1t
was too dark for good aim and there
was little in sight to aim at.
But keen eyes had spied boat moor
ed in the bushes and two soldiers were
quickly in it and padding after the
fugitive They we're gaining rapidly,
as Nathan saw by turning his head.
Clinging to the horses name with the
one hand he snapped the pistol that he
still held in the other. But it was
wet and would not go off. He snatched
the second from the unsubmerged sad
dlebag and fired.
With the report the dragoon who was
padding tossed up his arms and fell
back with a hOarse cry. His comrade
rose to his feet in the swaying boat, now
but six yards away and levelled his
musket with terrible oath.
Flashl bang! the gallant horse quiy-
cred. whinnfed with pain and swung
helpless,y around with the current.
Nathan's hand let go the bride and the
black waters closed over the lads head.
(To be Continued)