News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1901-12-11
CHAPTER XI.
STEALING THE GUNS.

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object of undivided interest. The
men crowded about her, staring
- at her, uttering EXPLANATIONS of
admiration, vainly seeking a way to
do her honor. Presently they cut sap
lings, out of which they constructed a
rude chair, decorating it with twigs,
and one i'll favored bandit. to whom
nature had impaired a spark of art,
gathered wild flowers with which to
put on finishing touches. When the
seat was completed, the men looked
awkwardly at Jack, and the captain,
presenting the tips of his fingers, led
her to her improvised throne. Helen.
who at the first sign that | was to be
temporarily spared had recovered her
equanimity and had infused some of
her restored courage into Jack, saw at
once the advantage of keeping up her
cousins popularity. Selling some of
the flowers she Wove them on frame
work of green twigs into a circular gar
land and insisted on browning the IA
yorite, not queen of May, for May had
y
more appropriate-April.
By this time night had come on, a
soaring fire was lighted, and the guer-
Sillas, forming a ring of which Jack
was the gem, threw themselves on the
ground and listened to her chat, her
faces standing out of the gloom in
grim contrast with her refined beauty.
The captain, with his superior breed
ing, served as link between her and
his men, keeping them in check and
stimulating their admiration by his
own. If Jack tagged for a moment be-
tween her stories and her songs, Helen
was quick to suggest new ones, and oc-
easionally both were relieved by little
Buck, who would throw in some quaint
remark typical of that peculiar crea-
ture, the American boy.
So long as the songs and stories last
ed there was nothing to precipitate
trouble, hut the entertainment could
not go on all night and | began to
dread the moment when the girls
should attempt TO take their departure.
Presently Helen in firm voice said:
Come, it's time for us to CO."
Shouts of "NOr' "a dancer "a songw,
greeted the proposition, and the guer-
rillas began to form in groups to resist
dn~exit. Helen, selecting the noisiest
Knot of men, drew a revolver from her
pocket and, cooking it, moved toward
them with her eyes fixed upon them,
calm and steady. Whether it was that
they were cowed by the weapon or adj
nired this evidence of woman's pluck
5hey opened a way. The captain, seiz-
ing the opportunity, quickly took Jack
by the hand and led her after her
cousin. Once beyond the ring, he as
sisted the girls to mount then. mount
ing himself, the three rode away, fol-
owed by a cheer. AS for me, | breath
I'D one long sigh of relief.
"Well, Ginger" said Buck, "reckon
IF we uns air goin to git to Sparty to-
norrer Wen have to travel all night"
"ls the niger takin yo' to Sparty or
air yo' takin the niggerY asked one
of the men.
dat amt gwine to MAX no differ"
said Ginger. Mars Buck an | don
never had no trouble. Mars Buck, he's
my mars till gifts to de new one"
Buck led his horse to the log and
mounted, giving me a significant look,
as much as to say, 81 won't desert
you" then rode away, followed by Gin
ger, with the remark:
"Goodby. 20 fellers. Much 'bliged
10 the good time"
The restraint of the girls presence
Being no longer felt, the mems behavior
changed in a twinklng. The captain s
absence left Pete Halliday, the worst
man in the gang, free to foment trou-
BILE, and he began to do so by sneerng
At his chief for being brought, as he
expressed II, under petticoat govern.
nent. There appeared to be two fac
lions in the band-the one headed by
Halliday or Jaycox and the other by
Captain RingOld. Halliday set about
lnstigating the guerrillas, or, rather
ais adherents, to go after Helen ant
dance. To make matters worse, one
Of the men found some applejack, an(
ii was not long before the gang were
aalf drunk Meanwhile the captain
returned and received a hearty cursin&
from Halliday and his adherents. Sew
eral of them started to bring back tn,
girls, but Rlngold drew upon them ant
threatened to shoot them unless the!
returned. They staggered back, grum
bling, and the captain adroitly pro
9osed another pull at the applejacli
This diverted them, and after finishing
the liquor one after another sank int
drunken Slumber.
1t was midnight Every member o
lhe band was asleep save the man VIII
vas deputed to guard me. He was sill
ing on a piece of flrewood, so place.
mat he could watch me across tn
dame, lay on my back looking up a
She stars and featherlike clouds tina
now and again floated across the grea
blue dome, the only motion apparen
save the tree tops bending under an OF
casional breeze. The fire fickered, tn
guard nodded, and an owl In the dis
lance gave an occasional boot.
/ heard something stir in the undel
Brush. CHANGING aside, | saw sma