Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-09-26

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pressed"
II thought the general had some cap
tured guns" said Margaret.
$50 he has; but there are only two
of them, and they're nothing but lit
tie barkers."
We trudged on, and at last reached
the base of hill which alone sep
arated us from the plantation. A creek
crossed the road, from whose waters
we took refreshing drink, then sat
down on the bank for brief rest.
Our drink, our rest, the thought that
we were near safety, were indeed CRATE
full, and we sat silently rejoicing. A
breeze came lazily from the eastward,
rustling the few withered leaves re-
naming on the trees. 1t bore the faint
est sound possible for the human ear
to detect, yet we both turned white
as cloth.
"Great God! They are after us with
dogs"
We both sprang to our feet. "Come,' -
exclaimed, and started across the
creek to take the road leading up the
hill.
where are you going?' asked Mar
garet.
"To the crest of the hill.'
eve can't go that way; we would
strike the confederates. We must take
to the creek to evade the dogs"
Dashing into the stream, walking in
shallow water, we had not gone far
when the baying of hounds behind us
had grown so much nearer that we
stopped and looked at each other in
dismay.
Leave me-" said Margaret, "and-"
sSave myself? No, no; set your wits
to work, Margaret. Find ruse to
thwart them"
There's our chance" she exclaimed
a hundred yards ahead a tree had
fallen, its branches lying in the creek,
Its base resting on it's stump some so
feet from the margin.
you're right" I cried, delighted;
well break the scent"
On coming to the tree, we climbed
into its branches and worked our way
along, }isking fall every minute-for
whenever we heard the dogs we moved
, recklessly-and reaching the trunk
walked on 1t till we came to it's base.
ing ground?" asked Margaret,
cast q hasty glance upward, grasped
Q branch above me, vaulted upon it,
pulled Margaret after me, and in few
moments we were shining like SPUR
rels along limb on the other side. AS
we crawled outward it began to bend.
STOP" said Margaret.
"What now?"
If you can reach that branch above
us and jump from it to the one on the
next tree, you might loosen that old
vine, and throw it over this way SO that
can 60 down it to the other tree my
self. We would gain at least so feet
more"
but, my God! hear the dogs"
stood up, but could not reach the
branch. Margaret rocked the limb we
were on till l was enabled to grasp the
one wanted. Once on it, l crawled to-
wards Its outward end. l was now 40
feet from the ground; if 1 should miss
my grip on the limb intended to jump
for, the race would be ended.
l looked, hesitated, looked again,
drew back, then gathered all my nerve
and my strength, and jumped.
The next thing knew was lying on
my stomach on limb below the one |
had jumped fort had broken my fall
with the breath knocked out of me.
AS soon as could recover scrambled
to the trunk where grew the vine was
after, and began to tug at II with all
my strength, but could not separate it
from the limbs to which it clung. The
dogs were nearly on us.
"There isn't time," said Margaret.
Leave me and go on"
Nothing will make man so irritable
at such time as to receive sugges-
ton. was driven to that temper which
alone enabled me to do my duty prop
erly in a fight,
4'll be damned if l do"
jerked the vine clean loose, though
l came near losing my balance at the
same time, and swung it toward Mar
garrett. Lashing it to branch with her
handkerchief, she slid down it and |
caught her in my arms. Then crawling
out on branch that would give us fully
Is feet moro distance, we dropped to
the ground and dashed to clump of
bushes few rods away.
The pursuing party were soon on us,
the dogs barking, the men disputipg.
We could see and hear them distinctly;
they were citizens who. owning hounds,
had been sent to track us.
Mart" heard one of them say, "l'll
bet my hide they have left the creek by
that tree across the creek thar"
We'll take the dogs to the stump and
see."
With that they made for the stump,
the dogs frisking and barking; butnone
OF them came near enough to catch the
scent.
They've gone on up the creek" said
one.
Reckon" said another.
Were losin' time" said third.
One old dog that had doubtless had
great experience in tracking runaway
slaves had reached the point where we
would have struck the ground had we
dropped from the first tree we entered.
Come, Tge," said one of the men.
But Mge knew more than his master.
He kept On with his nose to the ground
making wider and wider circles. He
was coming near to the place where we
had descended from the tree, and would
there take our scent. Instinctiyely I
reashsd Ter ny: revolver,