The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-02-12
CHAPTER VI.
IN A STATE OF SIEGE.


Old Put stretched his neck, and tho
regular, steady beat of his flying hoofs
WAS music to II man who loves good
horse But tho new horse, too, length
enCd his stride and kept by my sido.
judged that he was good comrNdo for
Old Put. Tho plain, grassy and lndu
lating, rolled away before us. and
could not sec its end.
Our pursucrs hung OH, and distrust.
cd their silence. 1t bctokcncd resolu-
tion, Il determination to follow us mile
after mile to hang to tho chase like
hounds after Il deer. l Judged that
among Crowdcr's motives chagrin at
having mudo such !. fool of himself
and Il desire to repair tho error were
the strongest Tho men did not spread
out fan shape, but followed us in u
close group. l was still suro that wo
were gaining, though very slowly, and
they seemed to think SO, too, for pres.
emily they fired two or thrco Shots rs if
they hoped to frighten us with spent
balls. Tho girls horse swaycd u bit to
ono side, and | thought no had Stun
blcd again, but Sho said ho was merely
startled by the pistol shots, and, pulling
him back into tho truo course, we gal.
lopcd ON.
We crossed n swell Of tho earth, and
far out on tho plai1 | saw tho dim out
lines of d small house, or rather log
cabin, rising from tho earth. Tho girls
horse threw up his head and uttered
neigh, or rather Il cry or Il great sigh
for it was almost like that OF II human
I,,,i,, nj CT, Il, tn ..;,
his pace sinking quickly from suro
gallop to Shaliy trot Tho horses
great "vr were distrudrd with pain and
fear. and blood and foam wcrc on his
lips. y dark red clot Of blood appeared
upon his side, and knew then that ono
Of tho bullets which l thought would
fall short had struck him and tho wound
WAS mortal
Without my hand pulling upon his
rein Old Put stopped and looked at tho
other horse with eyes of pity and sor.
row, for he knew what was going to
happrn--hc knew he was going to lose
ono who had been proving himself
worthy running mate and comrado
| lvnpVd from Old Puts back and
snatch,d tho girl from the saddle Just
rs her horse rcrlcd and fell and gavo
up his honest life with one great groan
half lilt"d half pushed, tho girl
upon Old Puts back, whcro she sat SO.
currly despite the mans saddle. Onco
she protested, but | roughly bado her
DC silent and obey mo and we would cs-
cape yet Then she said no moro
''sSCu tho house yCndnr?" | said
awe will reach that and beat thcm Off
Maybe wo will find allies thcro. This
should be patriot region"
rested ono arm OH Old Puts shoul-
der. The girl was on tho horso's back,
and |, partly supported by him, ran by
his side 1t is Il trick that tho bordorcrs
will tell you is common and useful
enough. Old Put gayo mo great assist
ancc, for he understood, and as wo flow
along my feet ut times seemed not to
touch tho ground
Our pursurrs reached tho crcaG OF the
swell and raised Il shout of ttiumpn as
they saw tho dead horse in tho path and
tho single horse running OH, carrying
ono of the fugitives and half carrying
tho other
took ono quick look backward and
calculated that wo would reach tho hut
III tno. Our purSucrs evidently did not
think so. for they fired no moro shots.
The girl was silent. her hands folded
upon tho pommcl Of my saddle and her
faco all white again. Sho loft tho di-
rcction of everything to mo.
The cabin continued to rise from the
plain. tho corners. tho caves and the
roof appearing until it stood boforo us
distinct and near at hand.
"Now, Put, old comrade, greatest of
horscs," cried. two aro nearing the
goal! Show them how much strength
and speed you havo kept in reserve for
this last ctfortI Show them what you
can do when you try your bcstI"
lilo replied by decd. and fairly
swung through tho air rs wo raced