The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-08

NOA 0NNh AAOO Jill q fOOaA DuU c1A AAoIl
mental chorus as well. His zeal in
creased, and he danced like an Indian
at scalp dance, while the men roared
out the song and beat their bottles with
enthusiasm.
"Again congratulate you on your
company, your glorious band of res
cuers, Miss Howard" called out to
her.
know she heard me- but she did
not reply. Her lips were set firmly, but
her cheeks were growing paler and
paler, and she seemed to be white to tn
hair. tugged at my bonds, but could
not move them.
The song stopped for a moment, and
Crowder, looking around for further
amusement, spied me.
"a good song, boys, and good fun, -
he cried, "but here's better fun Let's
hang the prisoner and see him squirm. -
The others, as drunk as their leader,
shouted their approval, but the girl
sprang up.
''You shall not do that!" she cried
"And why not, miss?' asked Grow.
der. "He is our prisoner.
Because will not permit it" she
cried.
They roared with laughter.
If you do, she said, II will report
your act to Colonel Tarleton. This man
is an important prisoner. He can guide
Tarleton to Morgan, and he will do it
to save his life He must be taken safely
to the British camp. Tarleton will re.
ward you WE'LL"
"All right, if you say SO, Miss How.
ard" he said. Anything to oblige
especially one as handsome as you are
And we won't hang him tonight. Maybe
we will do it in the morning anyhow,
but that's no reason why we should stop
the fun now. A soldiers life is hard,
and he ought to make merry while he
can."
He took large flask from his hayer
sack and shared it with his men. Their
they began to sing and dance again, all
of them wild with drink
1t was an orgy of savages. The fire
had died down and ceased to blaze !;
only the red embers glowed in the dark
ness. l could feel the blackness of tn
night which rolled up and encircled
more closely. The girl was as immov
BILE as a statue. Her tawny hair sho
in the dim light, and I could see tn;
her face was still white, but that W
all.
One of the men fell down present
from sheer exhaustion.
''Let him lie, :" said Crowder. "He'n
sleep as we'll there as anywhere.
The man never moved, but began to
snore, and second one yielded to exer-
tion and whisky and. stretching himself
out on the ground, went to instant
sleep. Crowder himself was the third
and was followed speedily by the others,
including the sentinel, who had Joined
without objection in the orgy The six
men were sound asleep in a slumber
heavy with WEAKNESS and liquor.
A last brand fell over in the Goals and
blazed up. The girl rose from the log,
and by its light could see that her face
had turned from white to red She
walked quickly over to me and said in
voice shaking with excitement and
alarm:
''Take me away from here, Mr. Mar
rell Take ne away at once! would
rather be with you than these men,
these savages, these brutes! Nor is your
life safe here!'
''They wear the British uniform.
They must be loyal British soldiers, 1
could not keep from saying
81 do not know what they are," she
replied, with alarmed insistence, "but
let's go. Pray take me at once"
She pulled at my shoulders as if she
would have me rise and go on the in.
slant.
"Untie my wrists" 1 said.
She tugged at the cords, but could dc
nothing. They were tied too tight.
"Take knife from that drunken
FOOLS belt," said, indicating one Of
the men. Don't be afraid. He won't
wake"
She took the knife from the mans
belt and cut my bonds. l rubbed my
wrists together for few minutes to
take out the stiffness and to restore the
circulation. Again she urged me to
start without delay.
"Wait minute" said. "We must
provide ourselves. "
They had taken my arms from me
when they bound me, and 1 recovered
them, adding to my supply Crowder's
pistol and some ammunition. Then
turned to the horses
Old Puts great dark eyes famed
with approval and gladness. He had
stood at his halter's length, watching
the orgy and my rescue with attention
and understanding.
"We'll bid farewell to these beasts
now, old comrade, " said in whisper
patting his nose.
He was too cautious to whinny re-
ply. The brown hack was near him, but
saw another among those belonging to
the guerrillas which l fancied much
more than he. l hastily changed Miss
Howard's saddle to his back, assisted
her to mount and sprang upon Old Put
turned the heads of our horses to-
ward the northwest, but as the woods
before us were dense and interlaced
with wiry bushes and creeping vines
we dared not attempt more than walk.
The horses stamped and neighed as we
left them. The girls mount stepped on
a large, dry branch, which broke with
a crack like pistol shot. Nor did i'll
luck stop at that. The abandoned
horses, frightened by the report, neighed
and stamped again, creating a great up
roar.