The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-02-12
MY CAPTIV Z.
By JOSEPH A. ALTSHELBR,
AuthOr Of "I Soldier Of Manhattan"
"ThC sun Of Saratoga" Etc.
copyright, 1900 by Joseph A. Altshclcr.]
CHAPTER V.

The horses stamped and ncighcd as wo
left them. The girls mount stopped on
large, dry branch, which broke with
crack like Il pistol shot. Nor did i'll
luck stop ut that. Tho abandoned
horses, frightened by the report, ncighcd
and stamped again, creating II great up
roar.
The sentinel, who Was tho least
drunk Of the party, sprang to his feet.
Io was yet half daHtd with sleep and
liquor, but he saw the dim figures of u
man and IL woman riding away from the
little cncampmcnt, and he knew that,
according to the plans Of Captain Crow
der, it was not what should he. lie fired
hasty pistol shot in our direction, the
bullet clipping tho dry twigs above our
heads, and then shouted to his comrades
to awake, giving emphasis to his cries
with many sturdy kicks.
"Lool out for your hcadr' shouted
to Miss Howard. can untOward bough
might prove fatal. And bc sure you stay
with me-"
"rll not leave you," sho said
"Now, Old Put" / said, lead us
out OF this "
IIo curved his long neck in the dark
ness and looked ahead with sharp brown
eyes l let tho rcinS fall loose, and he
wound about among tho trees with Il
Judgment that WAS never at fault The
other horse kept close at his side BE.
hind us VIC could hear the cries of tho
awakened men as they lcapcd upon
their horses and rode after us, shouting
to us to stop. Two or three more pistol
c1,
them.
If tho men could see at all, it was but
dimly, though they could follow us by
tho hoof beats Of our horses and tho
tearing Of the vines and slapping Of tho
bushes as we passed. They made such
prodigiOus cursing and swearing that
wo wcrc mover in any doubt rs to where
they worc. l had mind for moment
to send toward them Il pistol ball which
would stop their fuss, but concluded
that tho moro noise they mado the bet.
ter it would DO for us, us it gave us OK.
act warning Of their approach. They
did not seem to bO gaining upon us,
which was a satisfaction for the present
Out Oh tho plain they would sec us
moro distinctly, but l believed that our
horses could leave them there
saw II beam of light shining through
tho latticcworll of tho boughs and then
another and another and knew that we
would soon be in tho Open The girls
horse stumbled, and sho uttered u ittlo
cry Of diSmay, but III Il moment tho
horse was steady on his feet again, and
wo went on The beams grew moro
numerous and fused into Il broad shield
Of moonlight Two minutes moro and
wo would be ont of the wood and into
tho cleared ground, with the fields rae
ing bchind us.
But tho light had its evil for us
Against its broad silver disk we wcro
silhouettcd like tho man in tho moon,
and tho popping of pistols told us that
wo had become good targets. Ono bull
let passed SO close to my head that l
thought it must havo cut lock Of hair
IN its passage, and took it rs warn
ing to hurry.
Haste, Miss Uowardr | said. "Wo
want to bo beyond pistol shot in tho
cleared ground, for tho light will help
thom there"
Sho was riding we'll, and her cxprcs.
sion was firm and courageous We
shook tho rcins against the nccks Of our
horses, and taking tho chances of bush
and vino sped into the open as u vollcy
Of pistol shots whistlcd after us
l uttered n shout half of pleasure,
half Of defiance, to our pursucrs and
bado Old Put show them what it was
for real horse to run his best. | had
confidence, too, in tho horse that tho
girl rodo, for ho was long limbcd. IIo
looked like strong animal, and no cor.
tainly had clean, fast gait that kept
him alongside of Old Put.
regarded our escape rs assured, and
tho girl soomcd to tako like view of
tho case. Relief showed in her eyes
Miss Howard" l said chccrfully
and egotistically, Il congratulate you
on tho improvement III your company !"
"At any ratio, you aro still rcbcl
with a ropo around your neck"
II seem to have been preferred to tho
British behind u.s. who do not havo
ropes around their nccks, but deserve
them. Remember that rido with you
at your own invitation"
"Then you consider me still your
prisoner"
"Oh, am yours; but, whether ono or
euo othS"f hiil ~ po SuillC
Tho hen behind us wcro silent, and
we were sure Of gaining upon them. ]
could SEQ their figures rising out of the
plain i'll the misty gray light, gigantic
and distorted in shape, and tho thud,
thud of their horses hoofs, rs regular
MS the ticking of clock, camo to on,
ears.
(Which way do wo go?'' asked the
girl.
'To Morgan, of course"
"Then l shall soon ,bo with my father
and friends again"
"Why do you think SOP
because Tarleton will certainly take
Morgan, and of course I shall DO 70,
taken
She looked at me with much Of tho
old sparkle and defiance and tho abso
lutte faith in British valor that British
defeats seemed unable to shake. / wa.
annoyed, and my patriotic pride wa.
hurt. ....