The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-01
CHAPTER III.
THE MERIT OF A coon uoRsE.

paused, not to swear this time, but
for a momentary reflection on the vani-
ty of man and the deceitfulness of wom-
an i'll taking advantage Of it, and then |
sprang upon the back of that old brown
hack-confound him for ;:n army mule
without the oarsi-and g.ro chase l
had no switch or whip, but l roweled
him and kicked him i'll the sides until
frightened him into greater speed than
he or any one else believed to dwell
within his long frame. He gave wild
snort, and we plunged after the feet
girl, rocking and swaying like boat in
a stormy sea, but even with such exer-
tion he could not compare with Old Put
Despite the anxiety of the moment,
noted his inferiority with some pride,
but then | remembered how much de
pended upon the success of the pursuit
and ! continued to urge on my own
mount
Strive and strain as we could and
ride and thump as | would with all my
arms and legs, we lost ground rapidly
The girl turned her head once to look
at me, and thought l saw a look of
triumph on her face, but suppose it
was my imagination which was indus
triously toriuenting me just then. l
groaned at the certainty of her escape,
and then hope seized me, for remem-
bered suddenly that l. too, had trick
to play. Old Put and possessed COM
mon language in which we often talked
with perfect understanding put two
fingers to my lips and blew between
them long, shrill whistle, which cut
the air and travelled like the scream of
fife 1t was request, a command
even, to him to stop and wait for me
He twisted his long neck in the manner
of one listening, looking back at rae to
see what | meant, but he went OH,
though with slightly diminished speed
his manner indicating that he was un
certain what had said.
The girl was belaboring him with
the switch, for she must have noticed
his decreasing gait. whistled again,
and as Old Puts pace sank to trot
she beat him fierccly with the switch.
A third whistle, and Old Put. now in
perfect accord with me, stopped stock
still; not only that, but he faced about
and neighed joyously The girl threw
the remains of her switch upon the
ground and began to cry, not pitifully,
but angrily. fiercely l rode up slowly
and held out my hand to Old Put, who
rubbed his nose against it. He knew
his master and best friend. Never had
! beaten him, and now there were
1tc cil 10 xrybo CI,
had pounded him with a switch, or
rather stick.
"Why did you not tell me what sort
| of horse he was," she cried, land
| then would not have made myself
| look SO ridiculous sitting here as if
had been tied and waiting for you to
come up?'
"Miss Howard" said in some as
tonishment, "do you expect me to show
you the way to escape?"
81 do not expect anything from you,
REBEL" she said. ''Do not speak to
me again.
All right; that suited me. did not
wish to talk to her. She used words
only to inveigle me into some incau-
tious mood. But it was necessary for me
to tell her to dismount in order that l
might change saddles again, as did
not intend to give her another such op-
portunity. / did not offer to assist her,
having had enough of that, but stood
beside the brown hack, watching her
with look that was now strictly mill
tary.
why don't you help me down?" she
said angrily. "Have you no courtesy
for lady?''
"You have declined such assistance
from rebel before, l said in reply to
her unexpected question.
"And decline again. You needn t
offer it, she said abruptly, springing to
the ground, when l had no thought of
Offering it.
AS soon as she was off his back Old
Put showed the greatest distrust of her
and aversion. He SHE'D as far away
from her as my hold ON his bride would
let him, and his big, dark eyes shone
with wrath. was glad that he had
come back to his senses, and he, like l,
should have known her thoroughly from
the first and always.
"We don't intend to be deceived by
her again. do we, old comrade?" said
to him.
He nodded his head in emphatic fash
ion. and his big eye winked intelligent
ly Her eyes flashed little. but she tool
no other notice
"Look well at this lady. Put"
said. 'Do you note herr"
He nodded.
"She's English, we're Americans
and therefore she's an enemy and not tt
be trusted. Watch her well, con
tinued.
He nodded violently.
"Now, Miss Howard" said severe
ly, ''I've changed those saddles, ant
they are ready for our use when WI
need them, but meanwhile we'll wall
again, as we've tired our horses out fol
tho second time, and all your fault too. ;
She said nothing, but walked on il
the way which had indicated, keeping
eight or ten feet from me. She hat
ceased to cry and had given her feature
O fixed and angry set.
was troubled greatly. We ha(
wasted SO much time over her futil,
efforts to escape that the problem of |
nights shelter had grown more diff
cult and pressing, aud intended tina