The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-22

surprised shout that came to Us, and
looking back saw them hesitating, as
if in doubt about my identity, and at
last running toward their horses was
glad that they would pursue on horse
back, and had taken that probability
| into consideration when we made our
dash from the house, for even at the
distance could see that the dim wood
looked dense and a poor place for the
use of horses.
Courage, julia said. taking her
hand. ''In minute or two we will be
into the woods, and they mean safety
looked back a second time The
guerrillas had reached their horses,
mounted them and turned their heads
our way but in doing 1t their time lost
was our gain Unless Iamed by some
unlucky pistol shot we would surely
gain the wood They fired once or twice.
and heard the thunder of their horses
hoofs. but had little fear still held
the girls hand in mine, and she made
no effort to draw itaway. She was run
ming with firm sure step, and, though
her face was white and her eye excited,
she seemed to retain both her courage
and presence Of mind.
The wood was not as far as had cal
culated, and when our pursuers were
many yards away we dashed into it at
such headlong haste that | tripped over
q vine and fell upon my nose, burying
it in pile of soft leaves, which saved
it from harm But was up again, re-
joicing at the accident. for in wood
interlaced with vines horses could make
no progress
81 hope you are not hurt?' asked
Julia an1iously.
"Hurt? Not bit of itp' replied
"What blessing these woods are! How
dark it is in here. and what a blessing
that is too.''
In fact, the wood was our good luck
and our best luck at that, for even we
on foot found it difficult to make our
way through it Afar we could hear the
British cursing in profusion and variety
as they strove to force their horses
through the dense bush.
"Hold my hand" 1 said to Julia,
''for otherwise I might lose you in all
this darkness and density. -
But instead of waiting for her to take
my hand, which she might not have
done, took hers, and, bidding her again
to step lightly, I led the way, curving
among the trees and bushes like a brook
winding around the hills in search OF
level channel My object was to leave
our pursuers at a loss concerning our
course, and we soon ceased to hear their
swearing or the struggles Of their horses
/ dropped into walk. and Of course the
girl did likewise:
''I think we are safe now" said
"There is lot one chance in hundred
to bring them across our path again
What a fine wood! What glorious
woods There is no such wood as this in
England 1t grew here especially for
our safety. Julia
"It did grow up in time, - she re-
piled, "but now that you think Us safe
again you can call me Miss Howard and
not Julia. -
That's true, and now that we are
safe again l must ask you, Miss How
ard, as an especial favor to me. to please
quit holding my hand y
''I am not holding your hand. Mr.
Marcel!" she replied Indignantly 1T
is you who are holding mine, but you
shall not do so moment longer.
She tried to jerk her hand away. l
let her jerk three or four times. and
then l added as an afterthought:
1t is very dark here, and there is still
danger that we might become separat-
ed l think l will let you hold it lit
tie longer, but shall endure it merely
because it is military necessity
She gave her hand most violent Jerk.
and it nearly slipped from me, but re-
newed my grip in time.
Simply a military necessity re
peated, and, seeing that it was useless
she made no further effort to withdraw
her hand. l could not see her face, the
darkness being too great, and therefore
had little opportunity to judge of her
state Of mind. Wewalked on in silence,
winding here and there through the
wood, with an occasional stop to lis
ten, though we heard nothing but the
common noises of forest-the cracking
rustic of dry leaves and twigs, the gen
tie swaying Of some old tree as the wind
rocked it and the soft swish of the
bushes as they swung back into place
after we had passed between.