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

If the men could see at all, it was but
dimly, though they could follow us by
the hoof beats of our horses and the
tearing of the vines and slapping CT the
bushes as we passed. They made such q
prodigious cursing and swearing that
we were never in any doubt as to where
they were. had mind for moment
to send toward them pistol ball which
would stop their fuss, but | concluded
that the more noise they made the bet
ter it would be for us, as it gave us ex
act warning of their approach. They
did not seem to be gaining upon us.
which was u satisfaction for the present.
Out on the plain they would see us
more distinctly, but believed that our
horses could leave them there.
saw beam of light shining through
the latticework of the boughs and then
another and another and knew that we
would soon be in the open. The girls S
horse stumbled, and she uttered little
cry of dismay, but i'll moment the
horse was steady OH his feet again, and
we went on. The beams grew more
numerous and fused into broad shield
of moonlight Two minutes more and
we would be out of the wood and into
the cleared ground, with the fields rae
ing behind us
But the light had it's evil for us
Against its broad silver disk we were
silhouetted like the man i'll the moon.
and the popping of pistols told us that
we had become good targets Que bull
let passed so close to my head that l
thought it must have cut lock of hair
in its passage. and took it as warn
ing to hurry.
Haste, Miss Howardl'' | said I'VE
want to be beyond pistol shot i'll the
cleared ground. for the light will help
them there ~
She was riding we'll, and her expires
sion was firm and courageous. We
shook the reins against the necks of our
horses, and taking the chances of bush
and vine sped into the open as a volley
of pistol shots whistled after us
l uttered shout half of pleasure,
half of defiance, to our pursuers and
babe Old Put show them what it was
for a real horse to run his best had
confidence, too, i'll the horse that the
girl rode, for he was long limbed He
looked like a strong animal, and he Ger
tainly had clean, fast gait that kept
him alongside of Old Put.
regarded our escape as assured, and
the girl seemed to take like view of
the case. Relief showed i'll her eyes
Miss Howard" | said checrfully
and -egotistically, Il congratulate you
pn the improvement in your company ="
AT any rate. you are still rebel.
with a rope around your necll.
Il seem to have been preferred to the
British behind u.s. who do not have
ropes around their necks, but deserve
them. Remember that ride with you
vt your own invitation"
"Then you consider me still your
prisoner"
"Oh, am yours; but, whether one or
the other, l am to be guide.
The men behind us were silent, and
we were sure Of gaining upon them.
could see their figures rising out Of tn
| plain in the misty gray light, gigantic
and distorted in shape, and the thud
thud of their horses hoofs, as regular
as the ticking of a clock, came to ou
ears
(which way do we go?' asked tn
girl.
HTo Morgan, of course"
"Then l shall soon be with my fathe
and friends again."
"Why do you think sop
because Tarleton will certainly talk
Morgan, and of course ! shall be re
taken"
! She looked at me with much of tn
old sparkle and defiance and the abso
lutte faith in British valor that Britisl
defeats seemed unable to shake. Iva
annoyed. and my patriotic pride wa
hurt
"You seem to take it for granted tina
Tarleton will win if he should overtak
Morgan"
81 do"
'Yet you have heard the news fror
Kings Mountain?"
"a chance, an accident"
"The same chance, the same accident
may happen again"
Never" F."
l could not say her nay, for were W
not retreating steadily before the aG
vance OF Tarleton, a retreat that SCENE
to all to be the part of wisdom, fo
again let it be said that we were fewe
in numbers, far inferior in equipment
and more than half of our little arm
were raw troops, farmersl The exhila
ration of the fight and escape disaI
peared for the time, and heavy deprel
sion took itc placa