The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-27

and let US starve, here in the wilder
ness?"
mo, stree! Shadrach too hongry! He
not gwine die dat-er-Way, wild meal and
flour, an middlin' meat in de wagin."
Shadrach said, grinning broadly, as he
rubbed his eyes: But faint no wonner
I drapt ter sleep. Vail dribe dam hawses
so pizen slow, de ve'y look er de wagin-
wheels sot me noddin'."
Well Drive for all your team is
worth now" Joe called back. He was
a hundred yards clear of the latest
drove laggard. Far ahead he could see
the foremost ranks punching and
crowding in the creek. He swung his
whip high above his head, made it
snap three times, and went like the
wind in the wake of the plunging
beasts. BY the time he came fully up
with them only twenty stood in the
stream. 1t was rolled for 100 yards up
and down. The banks were shallow
and shelving-Joe knew the drove had
rushed down them, then the more
whimsical or the least thirsty, had
crowded one above the other, each
eager to drink from a current unVexed
and untainted.
AS he rode up the bank he saw his
father, dismounted, bending to rub mis-
stiffened legs. Johnny had made half
circuit of the meadow-he was fetching
Lightly back, leaving the drove,
which had followed her, divided be-
twixt wallowing and grazing. He
scrambled down and leaned a minute
on the mares shoulder. She batted
her ears and nipped his arm, then rub
bed the saddle lightly back and forth
against him. The instant she felt 1t
ungirthed she slid from under it, let
ting il tumble from his hands, gave
a low, prankish kick, then ran little
way to level space, put her nose to
earth, turned twice about, feeling for
snags or stones, then lay down upon
it and wallowed hard, turned over three
times, and kicking vigorously with all
her feet, as she lay poised upon her
backbone.
She got up and stood with her head
slightly dropping, nibbling at a handful
of grass Squire Gleaves held. Johnny
went up to her and made to take off
the bride. but Squire Gleaves waved
him back saying: Get the natter
ready first, Jack. No horse, not even
'Lightly-ain't to be depended on when
there's rain in the air. I'm sure it's
goin' to rain to-night-that's what sets
the drove to wallowin' and nickerin' so,
and cockin' their tails so sassy. They
won't break out without this lady,
stroking 'Lightly's glossy neck but
with her loose, thar's so tellin' what
mightn't happen-ef once she took the
notion to run, there'd be the very devil
to pay"
The wagon Gathering up, drowned
lower sounds, at least TO human ears.
But all at once, Lightly half wheeled
stretched her neck, pricked both ears
sharply forward, flung up her head
and snorted. After it, she stood rigid,
with fiaring nostrils, snorting family
with every other breath. She faced the
unbroken woods, thick with under
brush, which lay upon the other side
of the road. Squire Gleaves stroked her
shoulders soothingly, as he said to
Johnny, II do wonder what she hears
or smells? 1t CANT be varmint-if 1t
was, shed stand forward, ready to
Jump at it and trample it. And trav-
elers amt likely-not unless they're
lost"
MAYBE it's-robbers. Johnny said
in a whisper Squire Gleaves laughed,
but not too easily-outlawry was a
thing all drovers had to reckon with.
He had known of droves stampeded, OF
drovers robbed and murdered in cold
blood, though he himself had always
! gone scot free. He reflected that it was
/ foolhardy, to have come as he had,
1 thus light handed. with the biggest
! drove, and the most valuable. that had
| ever left the grass country. So he was
more than relieved when single
] horseman broke out of the bush, ap.
/ parently unarmed, well, even fash
! ionably equipped, and splendidly
mounted, though his horse, raking
| chestnut, seemed something over rid
| den.
! with a civil greeting he got down,
| stretched himself nightly. unsaddled
/ his painting horse, then swung upon his
| heels, saying; II see you mean TO camp
/ here. VIII you take me in2"
I'VE are out ourselVes-we don't own
! the earth and the sky" Joe answered
I with a nervous half-laugh The strang-
/ er did not notice him. Instead. he adj
] dressed the Squire: I'VE are dead beat
my horse and have been lost all
] day" he said. white Foot is better
/ on than his master-be can eat grass
/ n there is nothing better. / am very
! hungry"
Well You won't stay so-not long.
/ the Squire said. You. Sam make haste
with that wood, The fire ought 20 be
/ hurnin' by thls-i struck "a light the
minute I got down"
with your gun flint" the stranger
asked. Squire Gleaves looked a. him
hard. nodded. and added slowly. "Yei
with my gun fint-but you better
belieys primea the pan well after