The Princeton union., 1899-08-10
THE PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, AUGUST lo, 1899
their way to Caleb Shurker's to make
him surrender his hoard - ----- = :

their way to Caleb Shurker's to make
him surrender his hoard. ," r."
This announcement had an electrify-
ing effect upon the men.
''Claudius Smith on another of his
raids, dye say? The robber! The muir
derer!"
And with these exclamations of rage
they hurried away to prepare them
selves for action Accustomed as they
We're to respond to sudden alarms. the
men of this border settlement were not
long in making ready for the road
Within a few minutes after the mes
senger's arrival they We're 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 us?''
"Let me think bit!' he answered,
knitting his brows. ''There's Simon
Bevier that lives three miles from here,
near the Goshen pike, and there's Luke
Harding, about mile further en-, 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
I,,1-
join us2' asked Polly eagerly.
''To be sure they will. was the re-
sponse.
'Then do you lead the way" she
cried, land 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 fa1
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 Bevier
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 tc
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 yell find us awaiting
ye at the spring.
Seth listened to these instructions
intently and then dashed off upon his
errand at a furious gallop Shortly aft
erward Luke Harding appeared upon
the road, mounted on a spirited mare
and armed to the teeth. As he took his
place in the company their leader call
ed out:
''Now, my lads forward!''
And. digging his heals into the fanks
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
chance to recuperate and on resum-
ing the desperate race were almost as
fresh as when they started.
Now. it chanced that Polly had OBJ
served the remains of the Tories sup
per in the bushes around the spring
and the hoof prints Of their horses
where they had stopped to drink from
it. These telltale signs informed hel
that Claudius Smith had already passed
that way. and realizing that only speed
could avail now she dashed once more
into the lead
''Wake up, friends. she shouted ex,
citedly. 'Ride for your very lives. The
Tories are ahead of us. and we've not a
second to spare
Her companions greeted these words
with suppressed exclamations Of ap.
proval. and bending low over thei,
horses necks swept after her like a
Whirlwind.
Did they arrive at the Shurkers' i1
time? The sequel will show.
CHAPTER TX.
CAUGHT IN TRAP