The Ravalli Republican., 1898-08-24
chosen would place him miles bo
yond the picnic party.

| NAOoCH NoG1A l'it]SO A1A1l 41iA1S'o w
yond the picnic party.
Over the hills a plain of grass
stretched to the mountains. Rey yond
this plain it was considered danger
Gus to- so. The country was occupied
by Afridis aud other wild nomatls,
who owed an uncertain allegiance
to the aneer. ".-. .:m.".--. ".
Baby had crossed, and was now
resting his horscuon the great green
plateau, when his attention was
called to some object rapidly cross
ing. Taking ont his ficlds]asses, he
I saw q horseman pursued at perhaps
half q mile distant by some so OF 60
mounted Afghans or Afridis, he
could not tell which.
He rode in the direction of the
fugitive who Was taking q slantinS
course, evidently to escape through
the de1ile, the route of the picnic
party. Baby was soon able to join
was civilian and that he was
wounded, for he had q handkerchief
tied round his head from which
blood was trickling down his face.
"Bacls, man, back to the fort! The
Afridis are out! Here they come!'
And he malo rapid gesture with
his left ha7 4.
"How many are there?" asked
Baby g..
"Fifty OF GO of the ficnds," was
shouted in answer.
They were now galloping side by
side.
"Therc are ladies in the pass
there!'' shouted Baby. ...-....
"Heaven help them!''
"Thcre 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 IT these hill
men came upon the little party with
ont warning, there would be mas
sacre. His mind was made up. The
pursucrs We're rapidly gaining.
They knew there was q chance Of
escape for the fugitives il they gain
ed the pass. Cut off from that,
there was none.
Tho strangers horse was giving
out, though lis own was quite fresh,
thanks to its long rest. Baby was
thinking Of Dora. She must be
saved at all costs.
"Etop!n cried Baby.
"Have you gone mad!'
"No; stop and get down. Have
my horse. I am a lighter man.
, Your horse wi1l do for me. :"
A change Of horses was soon
effected, and they were off on thci1
mad ride again.
"Gct ahead as quickly as possible
, but give me your rifle and ammlni
tiOn!' shouted Baby.
| The stranger loosened lis rifle
and they swung the horses together
while the gun and cartridges passe(
into his hands. They could hear the
: yells of their pursuers now, who
t were determined not to lose thci]
I prey. .~-. ..4
l "You ride on and warn the gen
eral. You cannot miss him. | vii
stop some of these chaps at the en-
trance Of the pass!" shouted Baby
as q bullet whizzed past his head.
, They were nearing the entry now
; which was narrow, and to avoid ac
cident Baby held his horse in t
give his companion a few yard
start. AS soon as they were abou
t 100 yards inside the defile Bah,
: drew his revolver, and, refining hi
exhausted horse, shot it through tn
} head. There was no cover in tn
, detile, SO Baby was going to fgh
5 from behind his steed.
} At each side the hills rose almos
2 perpendicularly. If he could bu
hold the brutes back for half 4:
} hour, it would give the general tim
| to save Dora.
: He had one advantage. The,
] would come full tilt at the openin;
under the impression he had passe
: OH through He looked at his ca1
= tridges and smiled. There were neal
: ly 100, with those of the civilian:
e and then he had his two revolvers
c but there were so OF 60 of the enc
= my to face.
q The Aflidis came on with lileoU
warclies. The first one who passe
i the angle fell almost before he coul
k see what was opposed to him, fo
Baby had his rifle trained on thf
! corner. Now his shooting stood hi
il in good service, and he mental
G blessed Hunt.
It Another fell just as he entered tn
J. opening. Crack, crack, and tW
S more went down under his 1nercilcs
aim. He knew that he must fill th
It pass with dead before they could |
n fully awakened to the fact that
e was guarded. When the first fe]
y others had come on so furiousl
t. that they could not check then
Il selves, but more wolld be up pre-
'e emily.