The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-05


"we'l break the scent"
On coming to the tree, we climbed
into its branches and worked our way
along, risking fall every minute-for
whenever we heard the dogs we moved
recklessly-and reaching the trunk
walked on it till we came to its base.
Cant we go farther without touch
ing ground?" asked Margaret.
cast hasty glance upward. grasped
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 go 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 | was enabled to grasp the
one wanted. Once on it, crawled to-
wards its outward end. | was now 30
feet from the ground; if | should miss
my grip on the limb intended to jump
for, the race would be ended.
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 a 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 it with all
my strength, but could not separate il
from the limbs to which il chung. The
dogs were nearly on us.
There isn't time" said Margaret.
Leave me and go on"
Nothing will make "a man so irritable
at such time as to receive a sugges-
ton. | was driven to that temper which
alone enabled me to do my duty prop
erly in a fight.
"I'll be damned if | do
l ierked the vine clean loose, though
| came near losing my balance at the
same time, and swung it toward Mar
garet. Lashing it to a branch with her
handkerchief, she slid down il and
caught her in my arms. Then crawling
out on branch that would give us fully
Is feet more distance, we dropped to
the ground and dashed to a clump of
bushes few rods away.
The pursuing party were soon on us,
the dogs barking, the men disputing.
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, IN
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, Tige,' said one of the men.
But Tige 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. Instinctively !
reached for my revolver.
Shall kill him."
"Ieavens. mol"
you Tige!" called a voice. man
grasped 1ige's collar and dragged him
away.
Thank God!" we both gasped
l was dazed by the sudden release
from so terrible tension. Margaret"
cried, incoherently, general mean
Margaret-you've got more sense than
any general in the army"
Margaret paid no attention to me.
one ndu risen anu WIS lOOhlIB uDOuL
listening.
(Which way now?" l asked.
I'VE must go in the opposite direc-
ton from the dogs-down the creek"
We retraced our steps, walking on
the bank instead of in the water, till we
came to the place we had left-the place
where the creek crossed the road. We
had scarcely reached it when from the
southwark came clatter of horses
hoofs, a rafting of arms and accoutre.
ments, a shouting of orders. turned
and saw a cloud of dust, above which
waved battle-hag. Margarets endur-
ance was exhausted. Covering her face
with her hands she stood waiting, res
signed to whatever fate was in store for
us.
They're coming" said.
"Who?"
"The rebels"
l heard a din in the opposite direc4
ton, on the crest of the hal between
us and the plantation. Through a gap