The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-05

You'd the next rise, I'm thinkin', an
there's master straight stretch be-
yond.
Yes, Cap'n. You'll see him for sure
up there 1 reckon While you ride that
way I'll watch here. If you see him
shoot him in the back. Don't let him
git hold on we. No matter if he hasn't
a gun, he'll charge at we like painter,
if he sees a ghost Of chance. Take
no chances with Skenando's Quedar.
1 know him of old"
I'D be fair pleased to take him alive,
but did or alive, mon, Macs the lad
that'll have him. returned the big fell
low as he spurred up the rise to the
south. 1 now realized that l must act
quickly. l could have killed Beacraft
where he sat, but l had my reasons for
wanting him alive Fortune favored
me. He rode his sorry nag just past
my hiding place, got down off his sad
die and began examining the creek
trail. The old horse reached out for the
fresher leaves beside thea little ford,
took two or three short steps ahead,
and my range was clear. Beacraft,
crouching there in the dust, back to-
wards me, did not hear me as leaped
out, nor did he dream that / was with
in mile of him, until l had my hand
| before seen such look of AFFECT fear
on the face of any human being, as
was on that narrow phiz of his, when
swung him slowly around and looked
down into his eyes.
mot a squeak" I whispered, as /
dropped my rife and drew my knife,
cor l slit you from chin to crotch"
He was too weak from fear to raise
his own gun, and it dropped from his
nerveless grasp into the soft dust of
the trail. The old horse started trifle
as l spTang at his master, but soon
settled down again and began eating
as before. Keeping hold of my captive
led him to the horse and commanded
him to unite the bride rein, which was
a buckskin thong He was far too
nervous to unite any knot, however, so
cut it and tied his hands behind him.
Turning the horse south, / gave him "a
prick with my knife. He jumped two
or three times, settled down into a
walk, then began eating brush again.
l had hoped to send him down the
trail, obliterate my own tracks, and
then hide in the bushes to shoot Nc
Donald as he came back. But l was
not quick enough. AS l picked up my
own and Beacraft's gun, Mcdonald re-
appeared over the rise, took in at a
glance the fact that 1 was armed and
had Beacraft prisoner, whirled his
horse and spurred through the woods
over towards the river. Beacrafts
horse now showed life, and, neighjng
loudly, followed. I heard both horses,
first one, then the other, plunge into
the river, and knew that Mcdonald had
escaped me.
I lost no time, but driving Beacraft
! before me, up the trail into the glen,
| soon reached the oak again. Here I
searched him hastily, and cutting a
slim, light pole, fastened one end to
the thong that bound his wrists. His
rifle l fastened to my back, and, TAX
/ ing mine in one hand, the end of the
| pole in the other, drove him straight
| through the woods, over the ridge to
the northeast, making as direct a route
as | could, toward the north end of
lConesus. We crossed several trails, but
took none / feared pursuit and urged
/ him ahead by prods of the sharp pole
| against his lean back, until the sweat
rolled off him in streams. L guided
him much as Uncle Hans used to his
oxen, with "haw!" or "gee!" as occa-
sion required, and drove him as I'M
mercifully as ever one man was driven
by another. Just before dusk, when
we had reached the higher ground two
Conesus, having come, l judged, Is
miles or more, he collapsed and sank
down like a dead man at the, head of
narrow ravine. His fear had kept
him up well, but / now saw that he
could not go farther. He lay there in
the dim light, looking up at me like a
helpless wounded wolf l bound his
feet together, removed the pole, and
rolled him UP in my blanket, that he
might lie comfortably until, l had pre-
pared supper
Near the head of Conesus, as we
came along, L had heard wounded
steer, which had evidently wandered
up from the east side of the lake. Leav-
ing my captive, I went back, found
the steer, which had a broken leg.
caught it, cut its throat and now had
plenty of fairly good beef. I1carried
some of the choicest bits of this to
camp, and, building a small fire in that
sheltered spot, soon roasted a large
quantity / piled this smoking hot on
piece of birch bark. and having mixed
up some Darched corn paste. unrolled
Beacraft from his blanket. united his
hands and bade him sit up and eat
He seemed surprised, but sat up and
ate heartily, after which / cut a strong
pole. tied his extended arms along II |
laid him on his back drove a crotch
over each end of the pole and felt sure
1 had him fast for the night. 1 placed /
some moss under his head, threw half
my blanket over him, and, lying down /
close beside him, soon fell asleep.
The first gray light of the new dav
awakened me, but he still slept heavily.
I did not awaken him until 1 had pre-
pared breakfast, and when 1 did So.
was surprised at his wild behavior Hal