New Ulm review., 1901-07-24

steps across the open toward the wood.
which rose in dim line ahead of us.
While the window opened toward thes
campfire of the besiegers the door did
not, and we had gone perhaps 90 yards
before they saw us. This knew by the
surprised shout that came to us, andl
looking back saw them hesitating, asi
1t IN doubt about my identity, and at |
last running toward their horses | wasI
glad that they would pursue ON horse
back, and I had taken that probability
into consideration when we made our
dash from the house, for even at the
distance could see that the dim wood
looked dense and poor place for the
use Of horses
Courage, Julial'' said, taking her
hand In minute or two we will bel
into the woods. and they mean safety. ri
looked back a second time The
guerrillas had reached their horses,
mounted them and turned their heads
our way. but in doing it their time lost
was our gain Unless famed by some
unlucky pistol shot we would surely
gain the wood. They fired once or twice,
and heard the thunder Of their horses {
hoofs but had little fear still held,
the girls hand in mine, and she made
no effort to draw it away. She was run
nlng with firm, sure step, and. though
her face was white and her eve excited. /
she seemed to retain both her courage
and presence of mind.
The ypf,sad 1uoS ,,ot =,
culated, and when our pursuers were
many yards away we dashed into it at
such headleng haste that ] tripped over
vine and fell upon my nose, burying
it in pile of soft leaves, which saved
it from harm But was up again. re-
Joicing at the accident, for in a wood.
interlaced with vines horses could make
no progress
i hope you are not hurt?" asked
Julia anxiously
Hurt? Not bit of itl' I replied. ],
What blessing these woods arel How
dark it is in here, and what blessing
that is tool''
In fact, the wood was our good luck
and our best luck at that, for even we
on foot found it difficult to make our
way through it. Afar we could hear the.
British cursing in profusion and variety
as they strove to force their horses
through the dense bush.
Hold my hand, - said to Julia.
for otherwise might lose you in ALI
this darkness and density y
But instead of waiting FOR her to take,
my hand, which she might not have,
done, took hers and, bidding her again
to step, lightly, led the way, curving-
among the trees and bushes like a brook
winding around the hills in search OF a
level channel My object was to leave
our pursuers at loss concerning our
course, and we soon ceased to hear their
swearing or the struggles of their horses.
/ dropped into walk, and of course the,
girl did likewise
think we are safe now,'' said.
There is not one chance in hundred
GO bring them across our path again
What fine wood! What a glorious
wood There is no such wood as this in
England. 1t grew here especially for
our safety, Julia.
1t did grow up in time, she re-
Piled, but now that. you think us safe
again you can call me Miss Howard and
not Julia .
That's true, and now that we are
safe again must ask you, Miss How
ard, as an especial favor to me. to please
quit holding my hand
Il am not holding your hand, Mr.
Marcel p she replied Indignantly lit
is you who are holding mine, but you
shall not do SO moment longer. -
She tried to jerk her hand away. J.
let her jerk three or four times, and
then | added as an afterthought:
1t is very dark here, and there is still
danger that we might become separat-
ed. think / will let you hold it lit
tie longer, but | shall endure it merely
because it is a military necessity"
She gave her hand most violent Jerk,
and it nearly slipped from me, but re-
newed my grip in time.
Simply a military necessity, /" l re-
peated, and, seeing that it was useless,
she made no further effort to withdraw
aer hand. Icould not see her face, the,
darkness being too great. and therefore
1ad little opportunity TO judge of her
state of mind. We walked on in silence,
winding here and there through the
wood, with an occasional stop to lis
Ten, though we heard nothing but the
common noises of a forest-the cracking
,ustle Of dry leaves and twigs, the gen
lie swaying of some old tree as the wind.
'ocked it and the soft swish of the
bushes as they swung back into place,
after we had passed between.