Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-21
CHAPTER XIX.
BUCKS 1ND1scRET1oy.

who had completely collapsed at find
Ing that both Helen and had disap-
peared. He went to Helen and politely
offered to assist her to alight.
Eve must move out Of this at once"
I said. "All depends upon our getting
down the mountain and into some
town, where these villains will not
dare follow us. All stay here while l
/ had not dismounted, and spurred
my horse few hundred yards west
ward, where paused on the verge Of
the plateau. The sun was rising at my
back and was pouring food Of light
on the lowlands thousand feet below.
I swept my eye over the rolling fields
and woodland dotted with towns, vii !
lagos, hamlets and many a fair planta-
by the huts Of the field hands. Ear in
the distance was snakelike line in
the road, moving forward, 1t seemed,
as reptile crawls-the cavalry that
we had so nearly caught the day be-
fore, now on their way back to join
the main force. I longed for speak
ing trumpet sonorous enough to reach
them, but there was no hope for us
now in them, and brushed away dis
appointment and made survey Of the
ground directly before me-nothing but
stsep incline, so thickly wooded that
the character of the ground was COM
pietely hidden. On either hand was
mountain spur, between which ran a
creek. hesitated between taking one
of these spurs and following the bed
of the creek. On the spurs we might
be seen; by the creek we would be con-
cealed under the trees. I decided In
favor of the latter Returning to camp,
I informed the party Of my decision.
"Will you Join us, Captain Beau
montT I asked.
"I've been hunting TO 70 all 70
days." replied the captain. looking at
Jack. Nov I've found yo', I'm not
likely to part with yo'! Together we
can whip the guerrillas."
"Not dozen of them. Besides, we've
had enough of that"
4'What are you going to do with the
horsesT asked Helen.
.Mount the ladies'" suggested the
captain.
THANK yo'," observed Jack, "but
don't care to ride on horse with his
nose pointing to China and his tail at
the stars"
mo one could ride horse over such
a route" said I. "I'll take care of the
stock"
tethered them in the little pocket
we were leaving, knowing that they
were less likely to betray our where
abouts to our enemies there than IL !
turned them loose.
They'll starve." Jack demonstrated.
81 can't help it,
ssThey shall notr'
"Come, we have no time to lose"
But Jack set about collecting what
little grass was to be had and piiing II
before them. The captain. seeing her
determination, was soon on his knees
gathering grass and throwing itin her
apron.
II hope the delay will not cost us our
Hves," grumbled. "Now, Ginger,
want you to 60 of to the right Just as
far as You can and still keep me in
sight Buck, you go to the left and dc
the same. but keep close. for it won''
DO for us to cali TO each other"
"Jack can make ell sorts o. noises
cats. an owls an birds--so 20 can't tel
EN-" Buck volunteered.
a'Good, We may have occasion Il
nse her. You girls keep behind abou,
the same distance as our fankers
When we get to the creek. Ginger is tt
work down It on the right bank, Buci
pm the left, while keep as near the
creek as possible. Captain Beaumont
WIN you act as rear guard?"
SWfth pleasure, sir"
sHeu 60 to Sleep" remarked Jack
ssand be left behind"
NNot with you In front" said the cap
tain, looking at her reproachfully.
i gave the order to move. Making al
ltffle noise as possible, keeping eacl
other In sight, except occasional.
when the trees and underbrush wer
boo thick, we proceeded to the brow
che p1ataan. Descending, we 500
struck tho Gfsek and. under cover o
the trees, proceeded downward in ope
oraef, walking rapidly, keeping shar
tooanuh ahead and ON the TANKS. w
had not gone far before an owl hoote
behind me, and 80 natural was the CT
that, had mot been expectingit Ishoul
never have suspected 1t to have com
from the throat Of Jaqueline. Turf
ing, I aaw both girls pointing upwar'
On the very edge Of the decliVity an
not far from where we had begun OIL
descent man was looking down fro
the plateau. We were so protects
that he could not see us, for, besid
being among the trees, we were
comparative, shadow, while the MI
above stood out boldly in the light. T
did not look like a guerrilla, but =
hurried ON.
Discovering a great advantage
Jacks signals, called in the fanke
and the rearguard and arranged wi
Them that Jack was to travel with
as trumpeter. The boot Of an o
would mean "hide," a woodpecke
I I'D