The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-01-25

SNA "
rose and scattered under other iron
shoes. The ring of hoofs had its echo
flung back from the other end Of the
lane, and the gleam of steel met the
CLEAN of steel between the steep banks
under the trees. But the lad Gil the
mare was alone, while half a dozen
Roundhead troopers filled the narrow
track OH the other side.
The discovery and the subsequent
dash toward a common goal the path
which cut into the lane midway be-
tween then)seemed almost simultaneous
Oh both sides, hut there was a seconds
hesitation, All involuntary check. a lit
tie inevitable jostling amcng the troop
ers' horses, and on the lads part not a
second lost. The mare gained the outlet
first. The slope was in her favor, her
own superior feetness, too, and the
lightness of her rider. But his bullet
was only Just in time as he swerved
into the path leading on to the moors
to intercept ole from the foremost
trooper, and a shower of bullets sang
after him with high buzzing drone as
he turned. Half standing in his stir
rugs, he rode for the open country
rode for life and trust. with his teeth
set, catching his breath, but with a
flush Oh his cheek and his blue eyes
cleaning. He was such a boy-excite-
meut and danger were the salt of life to
him. Only the thought of the dis
patches be bore sobered him with a
sense of respcnsibility-brought a stern
curve to his lips and a line between his
brows at the sound and thrill Of those
laundering boofs behind him. Fortu-
nately the path was full Of sharp curves,
so that he was screened from his pnrsu-
ers at a Sery short distance. He stood
up, easing the mare, and she swept
down the dip Of the path with a burst
which carried her far up the opposite
rise on to the moor. He sat down III
the saddle and steadied her then, and,
riding slantwise up the crest, was able
without losing ground to throw a glance
back at the mouth of the path he had
quilted. In a moment he saw Il troop.
er burst from it, closely followed by a
second, then after an interval Ey a
third. He was over the crest and speed
ing down the opposite side before any
more came into sight, but looking back
as he came again on to higher ground
be saw them all-three first and two
behind-dotting the slope. He was
within range of bullets, but be trusted
to the pace to prevent them from using
their weapons, or at least to impair
their aim, aud the pace was terrific. 1t
reused a sense of wild exhilaration in
him. The rush of the wind made him
catch his breath, and sang in his ears
with the hum of vibrating chords. .
A wide, deep ditch yawned in front
of them, and toward this he shaped his
course. The mare quickened her pace
and took it with an effort, the bank
crumblipg under her hoofs. Behind him
presently he heard a splash and the
sound of struggling. His face broke into
an irrepressible smile of boyish citation.
He did not turn and wave his hat iron
ically, though he would have liked to,
but he patted the little creature under
him, exclaiming: Hey for King
Charles! Bravo, my maidiel' His color
rose jubilaptly.
But when at the end Of a few more
moments he found time to review the
situation he wondered whether they
had flung themselves on the pursuit of
a chance "malignant," or had caught
wind of his GRAND as. the bearer of
more or less. important dispatches. A
stern chase and a long one in the latter
case! At the next opportunity he looked
round again. They were riding in the
same order, with a suggestion Of dogged
determination about them which he
was quick to recognize. He faced round
10 the saddle again with a dry little
laugh, squaring his shoulders with
something of their own suggestion Of
c~bstinacy, thrusting his feet home in
the stirrups and narrowing his eyes
against the wind which beat sharI ~ in
them, but they were bright and conf.
dent still, and he leaned forward with
a pat to his mare and a light hearted
word of encouragement as he settled
himself in the saddle, throwing keen
glances ahead.
Twenty minutes later, breaking from
a coppice, he saw the clustered roofs of
a village in the dip below him and the
white ribbon of the highway in front
and behind the sweep Of the moors,
barren of figures for the moment, and
his face expressed a resolution more
than tipged with citation.
He turned on to the road as the fore
most horsemau doomed up against the
sky line a mile and a half away. But
before he had sone q hundred yards the
mare made a sudden stumble, and some
thing a sharply On the hard surface.
She had cast a shoe!
He Jumped down with an oath. The
smithy lay a couple Of hundred yards
farther on, just above the village, and
be led her there at a limping trot. The
smith ran out with a readiness which
seemed to suggest a grasp of the situa-
ton. Hs asked no questions, but took
the Bride out of his hand and set to
work without delay. 1t only remained
to the other to possess his soul in such
patience as he conld command, which
In truth was very little. Outwardly he
was calm enough, though, as he stood
beside the mare with his hand IN her
,eck he stroked and patted the little
creature as though it vas she who was
%maddening at the delay, she who could
hardly force herself to stand still. He
who had faced far greater odds-with
his back against a wall-undaunted,
felt overwhelmingly helpless, felt like