The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-27
CHAPTER XIV.
A FRIEND IN NEED.

lieutenant Oakman was too skilled
horseman to remain long in ignorance
Of the woeful mistake he had made He
had taken the worst horse of the whole
lot, and one Of the inevitable certainties
| of the immediate future was that he
| would be beaten in his flight for free
dom.
CHANGING over his shoulder at the
party dashing down the highway after
him and noting that they were surely
gaining, the fugitive perforce did some
hard thinking.
''This can't go on much longer. I
don't think they will need court mar
tial next time to decide what to do
with me-
The pursuers were close enough to
tumble Oakman from the saddle, but
he knew they would not do that, since
by waiting awhile he must fall into
their hands, while there was danger
that in firing they might wound the
horse. Even though he was the least
valuable Of the lot the party were not
willing to lose him.
Oakman glanced keenly to the right
and left, in the hope Of discovering
something that might be turned to &C.
count in his flight. The open character
of the country was discouraging but
he recalled indistinctly small stretch
Of woods through which he passed when
afoot, which he thought might serve
his purpose.
It soon doomed to view in the moon
light, and he again pricked the flank of
his horse, who was unable to increase
his pace by single hoof beat.
,"Its do or die, was his thought.
Then moment later he added with
the wonderful GOODNESS that had mark
ed everything thus far done by him,
"And guess it's die
The timber was not only less extern
sive than he had supposed, but was so
open that if he should leap from the
back Of his horse and dart among the
trees, even when favored by the gloom,
he would be scarcely out Of sight. More
over, if his pursuers So desired they
could readily surround the wood and
take him at their leisure
It was shock to the officer as he
sped with arrowy swiftness through
the darkened lane without slackening
the speed Of his animal and speedily de-
bouched again into the unobstructed
moonlight. The one thing upon which
he had pinned his hope was gene and
his immediate future could not have
looked darker.
. CHANGING to the rear again, notice
, able change struck him. The party haG
! drifted back few rods, as if their ami
q mails were growing tired or they haG
agreed upon some new strategical move
That the latter was the fact was prob
o able because one Of the pursuers was
q we'll in advance Of his companions ani
y bearing steadily down on the fugitive.
I He had most likely asked and receiv
n ed the privilege of running to earth thu
officer who had played so clever tricl
9 on them.
: eff l were sure those other fellow
would show fair play" muttered tn
lieutenant, IT should wait for that gen
tleman and have it out with him.
don know whether he suspects hav
the revolver of the man in the hall, bu
hesis in a fair way to learn it prett,
SOON
So far as Oakman could judge Their
was little to be gained by postponin|
the fight upon which the pursuer ha'
set his heart, though it was good gen
eralship to draw away the man from
his supporters. A vague idea Of secur
ing the horse which showed superio
aeetness was in the mind of the lieu
tenant, when, looking back and observ
ing that his enemy was about midwa
between him and his party, he for tn
first time since starting on this despe1
ate flight drew rein and SO slackene
his pace that the other overhauled hi1
'hand over hand:''
mo use, Yank! You may as we
give in! You're devilish sly, but
won t help you out Of this muss.''
's"'Are you willing to fight me?'' cal
edsback Oakman, retarding the pace {
his animal still more.
K, "Nothing would suit me better
rs you had pistol instead Of that tootl
to pick at your side, butt
IN IT have pistol" was the startlin
g, Information Of the lieutenant, who no
1g wheeled his horse about and fully col
p fronted his enemy.
I'D The latter was plucky, and, thong
re slightly disconnected by the unexpectt
We action of his antagonist, he whippt
he out his revolver and fired point blair
us at him. Oakman felt slight twinge
ed his shoulder, instead Of through Il
brain, as would have been the fact b
as for the restlessness of both animals
no Before his foe could fire a secol
ne time the lieutenant let fly. The 9th
We reeled and slipped out of his saddle
OF the ground, dead when he struck Il
earth ..'- II ,'"~
he Whatever purpose Oakman had
SO, Selling the horse of his enemy W
y, spoiled by the brute, which wheeled al
1e- dashed back at headlong speed iowa
az the company at the rear, whinnyi1
al in his terror as he dragged the form
1e- his late master for few rods, VIII