The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-11-24

behind the powders, but he had no
stopped and now he was aImos
through the pass. Yes, he could SCI
where the valley became wide befor'
him, and soon he would be out froa
under these terrible cliffs, with thei
long shadows and dark hiding places
He began to breathe more freely now
and again quickened his pace.
Harkl What was that? He stopped
and listened, and in moment he knew
he had not been deceived. He could
hear the sound of approaching horse
men. and they were coming rapidly
down the road before him.
He glanced behind for hiding place
and already had started TO climb the
cliffs when he caught sight of the ap-
preaching men and realized that he
could not gain place of coneealment
before they would be near enough to
see him. Perhaps they had already
discovered him. There was nothing
left but TO resume his place in the road,
walk on as though he neither feared
nor suspected anything and keep on as
bold lace as possible. Blu. if his face
was bold, it was the only bold thing
about him, for his heart sank when he
saw the six men enter the pass and
bring their horses to walk when
they noticed the stranger.
He could see their faces now, and
his alarm increased when he recogniz-
ed the leader as Richard Smith. He
had been at Goshen when his father,
Claudius Smith, along with Gordon
and De la Mar, had been hanged.
Montagnie knew what a desperate
Claudius Smith had been, and what a
terror his gang of cowboys had been
in Orange county and along the bord-
ers of New Jersey. Many rewards had
been offered for his arrest, and about
year and half before this time he had
been captured at Oyster Bay and taken
to Goshen, where he was chained to
the floor of the Jail and a strong guard
placed over him.
All his efforts to escape had been in
vain, and with his two companions he
had been hanged, as Montagnie him
self knew, for he had been in Goshen
on that very day. But Smiths son,
Richard, had been avenging the death
of his father, and the poor Wings in
that region had been suffering more at
his hands than they had from his faith
er. These were the thoughts that were
passing rapidly through the mind of
the messenger, and there was this des-
perado, Richard Smith, approaching
and with him five men as desperate as
he at his back. What villainous look
ing men they were! He grasped his
walking stick more firmly and tried to
appear calm.
Good morrow, gentlemen" said
Montagnie.
= gruf word was the only reply, but
each man was glancing sharply at him.
Evidently they were suspicious, but, as
they passed on, Montagnie breathed
more easily. The danger was almost
passed and in moment he would be
beyond their sight.
But he was not to escape so easily.
Without turning his head he was aware
that they had stopped and were watch
ing him. The moment was critical
one. Would it never come to an end?
"Hold, strangerr called one of the
men. You travel early
The messenger stopped-for there
was nothing else to be done-and watt
ed their approach. They soon gather
ed about him, and he knew his only
hope lay in his being calm.
"Yes," he replied, ''and neither are
you late in your start"
"Whither might you be bound?''
said Smith, ignoring his words.
"Oh, up the road here, among the
hills"
Smith laughed derisively as he re-
piled: "Fhat won't do. Up the road
may lead to Morristown or it may be
New York. You'll have to give an ac-
count of yourself"
The young preacher glanced quickly
about him. Should he try to fight?
Six men, armed and mounted were be-
fore him, and they would think no
more of shooting him than they would
a squirrel by the roadside. But the
leader had not failed to note his hesita-
ton, and he turned to his men and
said search him, boys. If he's
straight, it'll do no harm, and if he
isn't It's the thing to be done"
In momen. Montagnie had for
gotten his caution. If the papers were
foand, they would perhaps kill him,
and if he must die he would sell his life
as dearly as possible. He had been so
quiet that the two who approached
were taken off their guard when he
suddenly whirled his heavy stick and
struck one heavy blow and then turn
ed TO the other. With a bound he
Ieaped over the fallen men and started
for the cliffs 1t was desperate vent
ure, ard every moment he expected to
hear the sound of their guns. He
struggled, on, however, unmindful of
everything but his own desire to escape.
Don't shoot Don't shoot ~ he
heard Smith call. "He may be worth
more alive than dead. Ha, ha. Who
would have thought such peaceable-
looking youngster would have given
such a rap?" And he laughed again
when he saw how angry his cOmpan-
ions were. Take after him; be quick
or he'll get away"
Montagnie was struggling desper-
ately to make his way up the hillside.
For a moment he thought they had
abandoned the pursuit, although he
wondered why they did not shoot, but
he soon understood it all when he saw
two of the men coming toward him.
They had known of path, and, by
taking it, had been able to gain the
the heights above.
To attempt further flight was useless
now. and without word he followed
his captors to the road beneath.
Take him up TO the hut, boys, " said