Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-07-06

1t is long, sometimes, before horse
and it's rider become acquainted with
one another; but it seemed but few
seconds to Alice before she and the
noble animal were old friends. Jim
was right, Prince Hal could run; and
after the first few tremendous jumps
and Alice had steadied herself in the
saddle, the thrilling excitement
stirred her blood like an intoxicant,
and she realized that Jim had told
the truth; it promised to be the race
of her life.
"Je-ho-sa-phati" exclaimed man
who was plowing o fire furrow along
the edge Of the ranch where the men
were at work, 'Mr. Waring, look, vii!
you! Look at Prince Hal''
Mr.. Waring had not more than tin
to look up before ne saw his choice
mount pass by him like the wind
girl with hair flying behind her on
back, tho horse going at pace
not his fastest Kentucky ancestor E
matched.
On the horse went as if he,
knew of the life-saving mission o:
hour. The foam came back from
teeth, and his fanks were @'sz.
Alice leaned forward in the sa.',:;a
as she urged him on, and stroEe. -
neck.
A moment more and they ves@ -
the creek, q shallow stream. l}Tvsa
Alice could see q low hony 50
houetted against great. red n. ..
flame. The fire was coming.
she could feel the intense a
leap anda bound; they were .
stream and on again with ST
fight. It was matter of Sc
until the lowrsod house We re.."ica.
In front of it was the Russ sn'
woman, frantically trying t. ",l".
Of her household goods by dragging
them with one hand further from the
course of the fire, while in one arm
she clutched the baby, around which
she had thrown wet shawl to protect
it from the heat.
"Why didn't you run?" cried Alice,
as she jumped from the horse; "dont
you sec, tho fire is almost on you?
You can't save your things; run for
the creek! Run, sayl or you'll be
burned to death.
i Alice grabbed the child from the
woman's arms and sprang up into the
saddle as best she could. The woman
stood as if stupefied, the red glow
from the coming flames lighting up
her stolid face. The fire was coming
on faster now; they could hear the
roar and crackle as it swept through
the long, man-high grass of the swale
beyond the fence.
"Quick! quick, I say! no, you can't
run fast enough now to get to the
creek; Jump up behind ME, quick!
quick! or we shall all be burned. I
can leave you here to die!'
The woman's stolil nature was
aroused of, last by the animal fear of
danger, and while tue heat grew more
intense every Instant she clambered
up behind Alice.
Prince Halls face was toward the
fire. He had not moved since he
reached the spot; he seemel like some
beautiful statue, his body motionless,
his ears sharp and erect, his nostrils
distendcd; the awful fascination of the
fire was upon him.
Alice pulled at the bit to turn him.
He paid no attention. She spoke
sharply, but he only moved uneasily;
he would not stir from the spot.
Swifter than IN electric shock came
the thought to her mind that horses
in burning buildings would stay and
die in the flames before they would be
led out. It would be impossible to
reach the creek OH foot; in half min
ute more the flames would be on them.
Grabbing the wet shawl from the baby
with one hand, and swinging the child
backward to its mother with the other,
she threw the shawl over the horses
head. With the sight of the fire shut
out he quivered, turned as the bit
gave him sharp twist, and, just as
the flames were leaping over the sheds
hard by the house, lie sprang away.
It was race for life now-for three
lives; for the wind hal increased to o
gale, and there is nothing more ter
rible in this world than such relent-
less ocean of flames: Is was rolling
over the grass-grown plain.
Alice thought of Jim's parting ad-
vice:
Giles never ben licked in his life;
but, if you have ter, give it to him
red-hot!'' 90
With sharp cry, urging the horse
on under his heavy burden, she struck
him with all her strength on the quiv-
ering flank, not;once, but many times.
He jumped rs if stung by rattle
snake and, seizing the bit in teeth,
shot away as if shot from some
mighty catapult. -
Alice had lost all control of him
now. She could neither guide nor
check nor urge him The blood of a
noble ancestry, the blood or racer,
was on fire in his veins. Down the
short hill, over the brook, up the
further side, on over the plain like
some wild spirit of the night he ran.
A cheer that you could have heard a
mile, and that, mayhap, was heard
clear I'D TO the stars os heaven, rang