The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-17

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The gallant horse responded nobly to
Polly's urging and dashed forward at
increased speed. On. on they few.
through forests. fields and swamp
lands, up hill and down. trailing a
cloud Of dust behind and awaking the
echoes in the neighboring hills with the
sound Of hoof beats. For mile after mile
this furious gait was maintained. and
yet not the sign Of human habitation
appeared along the way Polly began
to despair.
| "Can it be possible. she thought,
"that no people inhabit this country
Just then she arrived at turn in
the road and uttered q little cry Of dc.
light. For few rods ahead could bs
seen cluster Of dwellings. with smoke
curling up from their chimnsys The
buildings were only log huts, but this
in itself was encouraging, for It indi-
Gated that their owners were stout
hearted pioneers, who would hasten to
respond to her call.
As Polly galloped furiously into the
settlement she aroused all the dogs to
yelping. so that when she drew rein the
inhabitants came running from their
houses alarmed by the disturbance they
| raised.
"What is it. gall" cried burly
frontiersman excitedly. "Have the In.
juns come over the mountainsi''
''No, not that. painted Polly, "but
something far worse, Oh. II you be
true men arm yourselves and mount
your horses at once. for neighbor
stands in need Of your aid"
By this time eight sturdy fellows
were gathered round her. with circle
Of gaping women and children in the
background.
"a neighbor in troublei" asked their
spokesman. "Then tell us his plight
Lass. and we'll stand by him. -
Hes to be robbed and murdered"
cried Polly. "Oh, make haste or it will
be too late "
Then. seeing the men still looked
questioningly at her. she added
"Claudius Smith and his gang are on
their way to Caleb Shurker's to make
him surrender his hoard"
This announcement had an electrify-
ing effect upon the men.
"Claudius Smith on another of his
raids, dye sayf The robberI The muir
dereri"
And with these ordinations of rage
they hurried away to prepare them
selves for action Accustomed as they
were to respond to sudden alarms, the
men of this border settlement were not
long in making ready for the road
Within few minutes after the mes
senger's arrival they were prepared to
ride to Caleb Shurker's rescue, and,
placing herself at their head, Polly con-
tinued her journey.
She had now eight men with which
to oppose 30 outlaws Conscious Of the
inadequacy of this force, she turned to |
the leader Of the frontiersmen and |
asked as she galloped by his side:
"Do you know where we can find
other true men to join usf"
tLet me think bitl' he answered,
knitting his brows "There's Simon
Bevier, that lives three miles from hsre,
near the Goshen pike, and there's Luke
Harding, about mile further on, and
then yell find no living creetur ontil ye
strikes Hasbrouck's, on the Minnisink
trail, whar thar's old man Jones and
his SONS, Tom and Isaac"
"And do you think these men will
join usP" asked Polly eagerly.
ITO be sure they will, " was the re-
sponse
"Then do you lead the way" she
cried. "and ride at full speed. for time
is pressing.
So the frontiersman placed himself
at the head Of the galloping troop and
called upon his comrades to quicken
their speed After following the road
for about mile they branched off into
the woods and disappeared among the
trees. By this time the night was far
advanced and they lost sight of one an
other in the darkness; but, with an in
stinct that was unerring, the frontiers
men made their way rapidly along a
winding bride path until they emerged
upon the Goshen turnpike close to the
house of Simon BeV4er.
Having enlisted this stanch patriot
in their company, they dashed on once
more until they came to the log cabin
of Luke Harding While they were
awaiting his preparations to join them
their leader called one Of the men to
his side and said:
"Ride over to Hasbrouck's, Seth, as
fast as ye can and tell the old man
that he's wanted. Tell him to fetch the
two lads along, and then take the short
cut through the woods to the Shawan-
gunk road, where ye' Ii ind US awaiting
ye at the spring"
Seth listened to these instructions
intently and then dashed of upon his
errand at furious gallop. Shortly aft
erward Luke Harding appeared upon
the road, mounted on spirited mare
and armed to the teeth. As he took his
place in the company their leader call
ed out
snow, my lads forward"
And, digging his heals into the tanks
of his charger, he turned back along
the turnpike and led the way toward
the place Of rendezvous.
It was fortunate for Polly that the
horse Richard Smith had provided her
was possessed with great powers Of en-
durance. for the pace was SO terrific
that otherwise she must have dropped
behind her companions. For mile after
mile they never slackened speed. and
when at last they arrived at the spring
appointed as the meeting place their
horses were well nigh exhausted.
While waiting for the Hasbroucks to
come up, however, the poor beasts had
a chance to recuperate and on resum-
ing the desperate race were almost al
fresh as when they started.
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