The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-26

Uy. ana he knew the road he had
chosen would place him miles he-
yond the picnic party.
Over the hills a plai- of grass
stretched to the mountains. Beyond
this plain it was considered danger
GUS tog go. The country was occupied
by Afridis and other wild nomads,
who owed an uncertain allegiance
to the ameer.
Baby had crossed, and was now
resting his horse ON the great green
plateau, when his attention was
called to some object rapidly GROSS
ing. Taking out his fieldglasses, he
saw horseman pursued at perhaps
half mile distant by some 80 or GO
mounted Afghans or Afridis, he
could not tell which.
He rode in the direction of the
fugitive, who Yas taking slanting
course, evidently to escape through
the defile, the route of the picnic
party. Baby was soon able to join
MIN. He soon saw that the rider
was civilian and that he was
wounded. for he had a handkerchief
tied round his head, from which
blood was iricKiing down his face.
Back, man, back to the fortl The
Afridis are outi Here they comel'
And he made rapid gesture with
his left hand.
"How many are therea" asked
BABY
! "Fifty or 60 Of the fiends,'' was
shouted in answer.
They were now galloping side by
side.
"There are ladies' in the pass
therel" shouted Baby.
Heaven help theml''
"There are 20 men or so with
them, cried Baby again.
"They will be eaten up by these
Internal devils, cried the stranger,
who was urging his horse to do it's
utmost.
Baby set his teeth. If these hill
men came upon the little rarty with
out warning, there would be mas
sacre. His mind was made up. the
pursuers were rapidly gaining.
They knew there was a chance of
escape for the fugitives if they gain
ed the pass. Cut off from that,
there was none.
The strangers horse was giving
out, though his own was quite fresh,
thanks to it's long rest. Baby was
thinking of Dora. She must be
saved at all costs
''StopI'' cried Baby.
"Have you gona nads"
"No; stop and get down. Have
my horse. I am lighter man.
Your horse will do for me.''
A change of horses was soon
Effected. ami they were on on their
mad ride again.
"Get ahead as quickly rs possible,
but give me your rifle and a.nmuni-
toni" shouted Baby.
The stranger loosened his rifle,
and they swung the horses together
while the gun and cartridges passed
into his hands. They could hear the
yells of their pursuers now, who
were determined not to lose their
prey.
"You ride on and warn the gen
eral. You cannot miss him. will
stop some of these chaps at the en-
trance Of the paas!' shouted Baby
as bullet whizzesi past his head.
Thsy were nearing the entry now,
which was marrow md to avoid ac-
cident Baby held his horse in to
give his companion few yards
start As soon as they were about
100 yards inside tho defi1e Baby
drew his revolver, and, refining his
exhausted horse, shot it through the
head. There was no cover in the
defile, SO Baby was going to fight
from behind his steed.
At eaoh side the hills rose almost
perpendicularly. If he could but
hold the brutes back for half an
AOuf, IL WcHlN give tHe SSnGfal time
to save Dora.
He had one advantage. They
would come full tilt att the opening
under the Impression he had passed
on through. He looked at his car
tridges and smiled. There were near
ly 100. with those Of the civilian,
and then he had his two revolvers,
but there were so or GO Of the enc.
my to face.
The Afridis came on with hideous
svarc,ies The first one who PASSED
the anEso fell. almost before hi, cnl1ld
see what was opposed to MIN, for
Baby had his rifle trained on that
corner. Now his shooting stood him
in good service, and he mentally
blessed Hunt.
Another fell lust as he entered fhe