Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-04-19

little indignant, but held on, leaving my left |
arm, which was getting numbed, more free
to guide the horse, and my sword arm great
&c liberty should occasion arise.
The country, rugged although it was, de- |
scended in slope towards the basin of
Trasimene, but l turned sharp aside from
the road, fearing there might be picquet |
thereon, and golloped across the open, far
outpacing my followers, who saw were
coming after me in a bunch, and at their
utmost spced-the honest knaves. The
glance over my shoulder that took to OBJ.
serve this also showed me strong body Of
to myself as thought we had gained mile g
start and that they had to deal with Castor.
Five leagues to go-it was nothing to the
brave horse; and in answer to my call he
stretched himself out as he had never done
before. As for me, such thoughts as had
when felt the arms of the woman loved
clasped about me are to be recalled for ones
self alone, and concern none else beside.
Once or twice glanced down, meeting her
eyes, and as she dropped her lids over them
they seemed to me to be alive with soft
light. After little felt the arms begin
ming to relax.
Hold tight" said.
II cannot; my strength il going"
Courage, take heart; see, to our left il
the Tower of Magione-a few minutes and
we are safe"
drew her closer towards me- With an
effort she rallied, her arms again frightened
in their clasp, and we sped down the long
slope which led to Trasimene, Castor
stretching himself like a greyhound I
looked again over my shoulder. Far behind
my men were riding for their lives, and far
Their still was the dark line Of our pursuers,
| coming on with logged persistenoe, the sun
| lighting up their amor and flashing from
their spears. Once beyond Magions we
were comparatively safe, but false step, q
stumble, and all was lost. Magione itself
was held by the Baglioni, and from the old
watch tower, built by the Sforza, which
stood high above the country, we might have
already been spied and party sent out to
intercept US. The thought seemed to grow
into reality, and despair began to come
over me- "On, on, Castorl" spoke to the
good horse, and he laid his ears back at the
sound of my voice, and even as he did SO
saw cloud of dust coming towards our left,
and knew that the danger feared was at
hand. Going as we were was riding right
into the party from Magione, and therefore
with touch on the rein ! swung Castor
round to the north, and we raced on, leav-
ing the tower over my shoulder. The double
burden and the tremendous pace, however,
began to tell on the horse, and within the
next five minutes he slackened psrceptibly
in his stride. To my horror I saw that tho
ground began TO be furrowed and cut up by
ravines and that we were approaching the
bed of river. had, therefore, to slacken
the pace, and at the same time our new pur-
suers sighting US came on with all the speed
of their fresh horses. Castor scrambled in
and out of the ravines like cat, but We
were going slowly now, and the enemy had
I'LL the advantage of the level ground to come
up, which they did at dreadful rate. With
the failing strength of my companion dared
not risk jumps, weighted as was, but the
brave horse did his utmost, a. if knowing
our danger.
For Gods sake hold onl" I cried out q
we topped deep ravine with plunge that
almost caused Angola to slip from my grasp.
and as said this heard shot and ball
from an arqusbps whistle over my head.
The enemy were in the rough ground now
themselves, but they were within gun range,
and dreaded that some of them might dis
mount and pick me off. This, however, did
not occur to them, and on we went, with
every now and again bullet, fred from
horseback with an unsteady aim, singing
past US. Ny charge had twisted her srml
int ny aAeuldsr bait and hsld % brlysly,
~ I ~ Z ~ wlise ~ ~ ~ M