The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-15

the strongest Inc men Qlu not spread
out fan shape, but followed US i'll Il
close group was still sure that we
were gaining, though very slowly. and
they seemed to think SO, too, for pres,
emily they fred two or three shots, as if
they hoped to brighten us with spent
balls The girls horse swayed bit to
one side, aud l thought he had stun
bled again, but she said he was merely
startled by the pistol shots, and, pulling
him back into the true course, we gal
| loped on
We crossed a swell of the earth, and
far out on the plain saw the dim out
lines of small house, or rather log
cabin, rising from the earth The girl S
horse threw up his head and uttered a
neigh, or rather cry or great sigh.
for it was almost like that of human
being, and staggered from side to side,
his pace sinking quickly from sure
gallop to shaky trot. The horse s
great eyes were distended with pain and
fear. and blood and foam were on his
lips. A dark red clot of blood appeared
upon his side, and knew then that one
of the bullets which l thought would
fall short had struck him and the wound
was mortal
Without my hand pulling upon his
rein Old Put stopped and looked at the
other horse with eyes Of pity and sor-
row, for he knew what was going to
happen-he knew he was going to lose
one who had been proving himself a
worthy running mate and comrade
leaped from Old Puts back and
snatched the girl from the saddle just
as her horse reeled and fell and gave
up his honest htc with one great groan
half lifted half pushed, the girl
upon Old Puts back. where she sat Sc
curely despite the mans saddle Once
she protested. but | roughly babe her
be silent and obey me and we would es-
| cape yet Then she said no more
''See the house yonder?" l said
1--WE will reach that and beat them off
Maybe we will find allies there. This
should be patriot region.
| rested one arm on Old Puts shout
der The girl was OH the horses back,
and |. partly supported by him. ran by
his side. 1t is trick that the borderers
will tell you is common and useful
enough Old Put gave me great assist
ance, for he understood, and as we flew
along my feet at times seemed not to
touch the ground.
Our pursuers reached the crest of the
swell and raised a shout of triumph as
| they SAW the dead horse in the path and
the single horse running on carrying
one of the fugitiyes and half carrying
the other.
] took one quick look backward and
calculated that we would reach the hut
in time. Our pursuers evidently did not
think So for they fired no more shots
The girl was silent, her hands folded
upon the pommel of my saddle and her
face all white again. She left the di-
rection of everything to me.
| The cabin continued to rise from the
| plain. the corners. the caves and the
roof appearing until it stood before US
distinct and near at hand.
Nov. Put, old comrade. greatest OF
horses, - cried. I'VE are nearing the
goal Show them how much strength
and speed you have kept i'll reserve for
this last etforti Show them what you
can do when you try your bestP'
He replied by deed. and fairly
swung through the air as we raced
straight to the cabin. expected some
tousled head to appear. reused by the
thunder of so many hoofs, but none
came The cabin remained silent and
lone. There was small garden. but no
fence around either it or the house.
Old Put dashed straight for the door.
as if he knew what was wanted of him,
which, in fact he did. and stopped five
feet In front of it so abruptly that the
girl would have shot over his head had
not held her.
She sprang to the ground I slipped
the bride off Old Puts head, gave him
slap and cried:
coop
He galloped around the house and
disappeared, his hoof beats dying away
in the darkness. Then showed the door
open and rushed in, dragging the girl
after me. / slammed back the door and
looked for the bar that is commonly
used as a fastening in such frontier
houses. There it was, and showed it
into its place. Nothing but battering
ram could break in that door nowl
''Safe for the timer' l cried 81 defy
them to take us in this fortl'
Then / looked around me. The girl,
half fainting, had staggered against the
wall and was leaning there 1t was a
house of but a single room. On wide
brick hearth fire was still burning, or
rather smoldering yet it threw out
enough light to disclose the contents of
the room. No human being was there
Everything of value except the heavy
furniture, which was of the rudest de-
scription and worth not much more
than raw lumber, had been removed,
and the whole appearance of the place
indicated that its occupants had taken
hasty departure. 1t was easy enough
to guess the cause. Some poor family,
frightened by the converging of the
armies upon this region, and with good
reason, too, for no other state was har-
ried in this war as was ours of South
Carolina, had gathered up their portable
goods and fed to safer quarters and per-
haps not an hour before our arrival, as
the fire still burning proved.
They might have made things lit
i tie more comfortable for us, said