The Holly chieftain., 1900-07-20
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By H B. M.etenaie

choked her What II her chance were
coming now:
Moore rode down the grassy slope OF
the river very cautiously. but evident
~ before he was aware his horses
forefeet had plunged into the stream.
He turned and called:
Come on, Chipanga; 1t is all right"
Bluebelrs guide urged forward her
horse, which, however. seemed 10th to
take the plunge. Her eyes were fixed
on Moore. whose horse was now wad-
Ing in comparatively shallow water be-
fore them. A wild thought rushed
through her mind. Should she spring
on her horse in midstream, trusting to
the swift current to carry her away be-
Tore her pursuers could reach her? She
might be drowned. Although she could
swim. her clothes would be an almost
insuperable obstacle. But death by
such gentle means would be preferable
to the fate before her.
They were Just about to plunge into
the water when Chipanga gave q sud-
den cry. Bluebell's startled eyes, fol-
lowing Moore. saw his horse suddenly
stumble in the water. Moore made a
desperate effort to keep himself up;
but as the horse. endeavoring to re-
gain its footing, made another blum
dering step, his rider was thrown clean
over his head and disappeared.
He is drowning, Run, run! Help
him!" cried Bluebell. She hardly
knew afterwards what wrung the cry
from her. whether it was real horror
at the accident that had happened to
her prosecutor or the sudden wild con-
her.
In moment Chipanga mad plunged
into the river. He was holding the
reins of Bluebell's horse. and endeav-
oring to draw him after him; but the
animal resisted, lifting up his forelegs,
and Bluebell breathed an agonized
Thank God"
The next instant she had slipped
from the horses back and was run
ming with incredible speed up the
bank.
The grass was so lonsa that it stood
above her head, but once she got ont
OF 1t she was In short. stubbly un-
dergrowth Of grass. Without looking
back, hardly breathing. she flew on.
1t was so dark that she felt sure Id
few seconds she would be beyond tho
sight Of her enemies
On. on, on! stumbling over tufts OF
grass. plunging into bushes, tearing
herself out again. not knowing whith-
er she was going. hardly caring, only
determined to put a distance between
herself and the hateful fate that had
seemed so near. Bluebell was hardly
able to draw breath. It came in sob
bing gasps from her dry and parched
lips.
Her ears were strained to catch the
sound Of her pursuer's horses hoofs,
or at least shout. No sound came,
and presently she ventured to slacken
her speed. What had happened?
Could the man have been drowned?
But she had to think of herself.
She must find some hiding place for
the night at least. Though she was
warm. painting and perspiring with her
breathless run. she knew that present.
ly it would be intensely cold. She had
loosened the heavy cloak which Gov
cred her almost to the heels as she
ran. and carried it on her arm. She
dared not drop it, though 1t impeded
her flight, for that would give her pur-
suers clue.
She was on the sandy plain at last,
where walking was at least less un-
even than or the dry grass. Suddenly
she saw before her little hillock; it
might have been an ant hill from its
size and appearance. Bluebell was soon
at it. 1t was not an ant hill. but the
deserted hole OF an ant bear, as she
discovered. She crawled into 1t. It
was dry and warm.
"They will not find me here" she
thought. Even II they followed on
my tracks, they could not see the bear
hole in the dark"
She threw herself on the ground
she could hardly sit upright, SO small
was the hole-and for the first time
faced her position. She had no food,
and no means of procuring any. She
was lost on a painless yeldt, not know
ing where the nearest wagon track
was. Wholly ignorant Of her wherea-
bouts as she was, what was to become
Of her? II she could not find her way
to any human habitation she must In
nvffa h1v die of ot rvatinu
The girl bent her face on her clasped
hands. and surely as earnest a prayer
as ever rose to the ears Of the AL