The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-08

thought they were clearing the whole
thing, but the man on the left seemed
suddenly to drop to the earth, and over
him rolled the fellow in the middle.
The man on the right, following the
! path that l had taken, pulled up his
beast, with a jerk that threw it on its
! launches and l saw him turn to gaze
1T the men and horses rolling and wal
lowing in the mud.
Farewell, my masters!' said l. and
laughed long and loud as I cantered off.
But was reckoning bit too soon, for
he sent another bullet whistling after
me that took off my hat.
Looking over my shoulder saw that
the man who had escaped the marsh
| was following me with determination.
He had evidently seized the situation
and made up his mind to follow IN
plans. SO in and out we wound, GEzr
ditch here and through cluster of
gorze bushes there, and he made no
such foolish mistake as to try to cut me
off or to take shorter route, but held
on to my heels.
The horse tucked his big thighs Under
him and tossed his head-faith, believe
he loved the spirit of the thing as dearly
as his rider! And so we went straight
across what bit of common there was
left, and, Swimming Dick Pritt's new
fence like a swallow, landed in the
lush grass of the Home garth.
There were yet three meadows be-
tween me and the sign post, and it was
good going over all of them. The air
rushed around my hatless head, the
stars seemed to dance all across the
heavens. The hedgerows shot up in
front like ghosts, but we were over and
through them and settled into our stride
again before had time to count one.
l saw the sign post, black, two
| armed thing, outlined against the sky,
at the corner Of the last field. We were
close on the hedgerow then, and as l
settled down for the leap I heard
Blunts horse Gathering up the narrow
! lane to my right. The moon sailed out
of the cloudbank; we stared at each
other.
'Ahw says he, "the troopers"
1.-TWO of 'em in Butter Bum hOle,'
says l. "The third"
But the third must have ridden rare
horse, for at that instant he dropped
over the hedge with a force that made
the ground shake. We had drawn rein
in the middle of the high road, and he
caught sight of us and came forward.
But within a dozen PAGES his beast
swayed and fell, tumbling him off into
the dust. In. spite of all his round
headedncsS he raped out q roaring
curse.
"Twas the rarest adventure" says,
II wouldn't ha' missed it for the world"
why, faith,' says he, you make me
envious. The lane was tame enough
a mere matter of straightforward work."
He said naught Of the dispatch. But
at the corner of Dead Mans copse 1
drew rein and held out my hand. "Ill
90 homc," said |. you have no fur
ther need of me. We will exchange
horses and clothes rs you return
Let ME keep my thanks till them"
says he, giving me his hand. 'To~mor-
now or the next day we shall meet
again, Master Stephen"
But ere he broke into canter I pulled
him up and wheeled about again.
"Hah" said I, II almost forgot to give
you the dispatch" and handed it over.
THE dispatch?" said he. 1.-The dis
patch? But surely.
$50 you did not know that I had it,"
says I. Faith, but it lay very near my
hearth and without more ado turned
about and cantered off, leaving him
there in the moonlight, staring open
mouthed at the packet in his hand
Pearson's Weekly. -,