The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-01-18

4
W.
tcopyrisht. 1893. BY ,. P. Lpplneots Col
s@s@s XVII-CoNTNUEp.
We both sprang to our feet. Come"
4 exclaimed, and started across the
crddEk to take the road leading up the
hill.
.Where are you going?" asked Mar
garet.
.sT the crest Of the HIM s
can't go that. way; we would
strike the confederates. We must take
to the creek to evade the dogs"
Dashing into the stream, walkingin
shallow water, we had not gone far
when the baying Of hounds behind us
had grown so much ear that we
stopped and looked at each other in
dismay.
sLeaye me" said Margaret, "and-"'
Y 4sSave myself? No, no; set your wits
TO work, Margaret. Find a ruse to
thwart them"
.'There's chance" she exclaimed.
A hundred yards ahead a tree had
fallen, its branches lying in the creek,
its base resting on its stump some SO.
feet from the margin. III.
You're right" I cried, delighted;
"weIl break the scent"
On coming to the tree, we climbed
Into its branches and worked onr5way
along, risking a 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.
I cast a hasty glance upward, grasped
branch above me, yaulted upon it,
pulled Margaret after me, and in. a few
moments we were shining like SPUR
rels along alimb on the other side. AS
W crawled outward it began to bend.
.Stop," said Margaret.
"What now?"
4s5 sIf 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
I can go down it to the other tree my
self. We would gain at least so feet
more:
#iss tasBut, my God! hear the dogs"
stood up, but could lot reach the
branch. Margaret rocked the limb we
were on. till I was enabled to grasp the
one I wanted. Once on it, I crawled to-
wards it's outward end: I was now 40
feet from the ground; if I should miss
my grip on the limb I intended to jump
for, the race would be ended.
I looked, hesitated, looked again.
drew back, then gathered all my nerve
and my strength, and jumped.
The next thing l knew I was lying on
my stomach on a limb below the one ]
had jumped for-it had broken my fall
with the breath knocked out Of me,
AS soon as 1 could recover I scrambled
to the trunk where grew the vine I was
after, and began to tug at it with all
my strength, but could not separate il
from the limbs to which it chung. The
dogs were nearly on us.
There isn't time," said Margaret
sLeaye me and go on"
Nothing will make a man SO irritable
at. such a time as to receive a sugges
ton. I was driven to that temper which
alone enabled me to do my duty prop
erly in a fight.
"I'n be damned if I do"
I jerked the vine clean loose, though
I came near losing my balance at the
4 same time, and swung it toward Mar
garet. Lashing it to a branch with hel
handkerchief, she slid down it and
caught her in my arms. Then crawling
out on a branch that would give us fully
is feet more distance, we dropped tt
the ground and dashed to a clu1np o.
bushes a few rods away.
The pursuing party were soon IN 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.
smart" I heard one of them say, "I'l
bet my hide they have left the creek by
that tree across the creek thar"
"Well take the dogs to the stump anc
see"
With that they made for the stump
the dogs frisking andbarking; butnone
of them came near enough to catch The
4! scent.
They've gone on up the creek sale
one.
"Reckon," said another.
2"JVe're losin' time,'' said a third.
One old dog that had doubtless hat
great experience in tracking runaway
slaves had reached the point where WI
would have struck the ground had WI
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. HI
was coming near to the place where W.
had descended from the tree, and would
there take our scent. Instinctively ]
reached for my revolver.
"shall I kill him?"
"Heavens, MOI"
I "You Tige!" called a voice. A mar
grasped Tige's collar and dragged hin
away.
"Thank God!' we both gasped.
7 was dazed by the sudden release
from so terrible a tension. Margaret
Icried, incoherently, "general-Imear
Margaret-you'ye got more thar
any general in the army"
Margaret paid no attention to me
She had risen and was looking about
listening.
(which way now?" I asked.
""yVe must go in the opposite direc'
ton from the dogs-down the creek
We retraced our steps, walking Oh
the bank instead of in the water, till we