Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-09-14
CHAPTER X.-lContinued.l

-;Ionce was only broken by the booming
-, IF the bittern or the tluttering of wild
In.ks far above our heads The road
ms in parts, overgrown with brambles,
AND was so deeply rutted and so studded
;tb sharp and dangerous hollOwS that
wv horses came more than once upon
-bsir knees In one place the wooden
bridge which led over Il stream had
Grnkpn down, and no attempt had been
ado 10 repair it, SO that we We're COM
naIIed TO ride our horses glrth deep
rbroneh the torrent. At first some seat
nred lights had shown mat we were
N the neighborhood of human habita-
lions but these became fewer as we ad-
yaprtd, until the last died away, and we
fouud ourselves upon the deS0late moor
which stretched away in unbrOken soil
-n1e to the shadowy horizon. The moon
bad broken through the clouds and now
Shone haZily through wreathS of mist,
throwing a dim light over the wild scene,
and enabling us to keep to the track,
which was not fenced in any way, and
.5uld scarce be distinguished from the
Main around 1t.
Ne had slackened our pace under the
;muressi0n that all fear of pursuit was
At an end, and Reuben was amusing us
hy an account of the excitement which
had been caused in Havant by our dis
gpnearance. when, through the stiffness
If the night, a dull, mutied rat-tat-tat
struck upon my ear. At the same mo-
mrnt Saxon sprang from his horse and
listened intently with sidelong head.
Boot and saddle he cried,
AGAIN. ''Thay are after us, as sure as
fate. \ dozen troopers, by the sound.
We must shake them off, or goodby to
Monmouth"
Give them their heads" | answered,
and. striking spurs into our steedS. we
Numbered on through the darkness,
Covenant and Chloe were as fresh as
could he wished, and soon settled down
into a long, springy gaIlop. Our friends
horse however. had been travelling all
day. and its long drawn, lab0red breath
ing showed that it could not hold out
for long. Through the clatter Of Jour
horses hoofs | could still, from time to
time. hear the ominous murmur from
behind us.
This will never do, Reuben" said |,
anxiously, as the weary creature Stun
bled and the rider came perilously near
To shooting over its head.
The old horse is nearly foundered,"
he answered. ruefuIly. I'VE are off the
road now, and the rough ground is too
much for her.
Yes, we are off the track" cried Sax
on over his shoulder-fOr he led us by
few PAGES. Bear in mind that the
Bluecoats have been Om the march all
day. so that their horses may also be
blown. How in Himmel came they to
know which road we tOokE
As if in answer to his ejaculation,
there rose out of the still night behind
us single clear, bell-like note. swelling
and increasing in volume, until it seemed
to fill the whole air with its harmony.
~ bloodhoundT' cried Saxon.
second, sharper, keener note. ending
in an unmistakable howl, answered the
first.
Another of them said he. "They
have loosed the brutes that we saw near
the cathedral. Gadi we little thought
hey would so soon be on our own track.
Keep firm knee and a steady seat, for
slip now would be your last"
Holy motherw cried Reuben. Il had
Steeled myself to die IN batfle-but to be
dogs meat! 1t is something outside the
contract"
"They hold them in leash" said Saxon
letween his teeth; "else they would out
strip the horses and be lost in the dark
ness Could we but come on running
water. we might put them off cur track"
My horse cannot hold on at this pace
for more than very few minutes, Reu-
ben cried IF | break down, do We
90 on for We must remember that they
are upon your track and not mine. They
have found cause for suspicion of the
two strangers of the inn, but none of
me-"
Nay. Reuben, we shall stand or fall
together" said l. sadly, for at every
step his horse grew more and more fee
bic TN this darkness they will make
little distinction between persons.
Keep a good heart shouted the old
soldier, who was now leading us by
twenty yards or more. I'VE can hear
them because the wind blows from that
way but it's odds whether they have
heard us. Methinks they slacken in their
pursuit"
The sound of their horses has indeed
grown fainter" said |, ioyfully:
SO faint that | can hear it no longer,
my companion cried.
We relned up our painting Steeds and
strained our ears, but not a sound could
we hear save the gentle murmur of the
breeze among the whin bushes, and the
melancholy cry of the nightjar Behind
US the broad, rolling plain, half light and
half shadow, stretched away TO the aim
horizon without sign of life or move
ment.
We have either outstripped them com
petely, or else they have given up the
chase said l. "What ails the horses
that they should tremble and snort:
My poor beast is nearly done for,
Reuben remarked leaning forward and
passing his hand down the creatures
reeking neck
q. For all that, we cannot rest" said
'"Aoh. we may not DE out OF udhger
yet Another mile or two may shake us
Gear: But like it not.
Like not whatY'
These horses and their terrors. The
beasts can at times both see and hear
more than we, as l could show by divers
tNamples drawn from my own expert
ehce on the Danube and in the Palati-
nate were the time and place more fit
ung Let us on. then, before we rest.
me weary horses responded bravely
the call. and struggled EDWARDS over
.ne broken ground for a considerable
!!ue. At last we were thinking of pull
ills up in good earnest, and Of congratu-
,auhg ourselves upon having tired out
gqF Pursuers. when of sudden a bell
aAe laying broke upon our ears far loud
IMAM it had been before-so loud. in
ICED that it was evident that the dogs
we're close upon our heels
HE accursed hounds cried Saxon,
rI'ung spurs to his horse and shooting
T9Gaead Of us: II feared as much.
II1ley have freed them from the leash.
mere Is no escape from the devils. but
n NJ can choose the spot where we shall
maze AZ. our stand"