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

Try, ana he knew the road he had
chosen would place him miles be-
yond the picnic party
Over the hills a plain of grass
stretched to the mountains. Beyond
this plain it was considered danger
Gus to 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 cross
ing. Taking out his fieldg]asses, he
saw a horseman pursued at perhaps
half a mile distant by some SO OF go
mounted Afghans or Afridis, he
could not tell which.
He rode in the direction of the
fugitive, who was taking slanting
course, evidently to escape through
the defile, the route of the picnic
party. Baby was soon able to join
him. He soon saw that the rider
was a civilian and that he was
wounded, for he had handkerchief
tied round his head, from which
blood was trickling down his face.
ssBack, man, back to the fortl The
Afridis are outl Here they comel"
And he made a rapid gesture with
his left hand.
'sHow many are therea' asked
Baby.
ssF'ifty or so of the fiends, was
shouted in answer.
They were now galloping side by
side.
s;There are ladies' in the pass
there'' shouted Baby.
"Heaven help them!''
4'There are 20 men or SO with
them, /" cried Baby again.
sThey will be eaten up by these
internal devils, cried the stranger,
who was urging his horse to do its
utmost.
Baby set his teeth. IF these hill
men came upon the little party with
out warning, there would be mas
sacre. His mind was made up. The
pursuers were rapidly gaining.
They knew there was 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 its long rest. Baby was
thinking of Dora. She must be
saved at all costs.
"Stop" cried Baby.
"Have you gone mads'
"No; stop and get down. Have
my horse. I am a lighter man.
Your horse will do for me.
A change Of horses was soon
effected, and they were off on their
mad ride again.
"Get ahead as quickly as possible,
but give me your rife and ammuni-
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. I will
stop some of these chaps at the en-
trance of the pass" shouted Baby
as bullet whizzed past his head.
They were nearing the entry now,
which was narrow, and 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 the defile Baby
drew his revolver, and, refining his
exhausted horse, shot it through the
head. There was 70 cover in the
defile, SO Baby was going to fight
from behind his steed.
At each side the hills rose almost
perpendicularly. If he could but
hold the brutes back for half an
hour, it would give the general time
to save Dora.
He had one advantage They
would come full tilt at, 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
warcries The first one who passed
the angle fell almost before he could
see what was opposed to him, for
Baby had his rifle trained Oh that
corner. Now his shooting stood him
in good service. and he mentally