The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-04-18

NOM, you w cAdCJly dS say
continued. Remember that you are tn
rank and file Of this army, and am it
commander. .
II will obey you," she said.
quickly reloaded my pistol.
Then showed the table away agaiI
and, overcoming my repulsion, dragged
the dead body to Il sitting position. 4
chill struck into my marrow, but
dragged off the red British coat and, hav
ing thrown off my own, put it on. TheI
! gathered mp the wallet Of food and Ole
Puts bride and took down the bar from
the door
Come, " ! said I'VE are going tC
leave this place while they are planning
by the fire and their backs are turned tC
as
1t was a bold measure, involving
many risks. but | believed that it would
succeed il we kept our courage and
presence Of mind For at least two OF
three minutes they would think | was
Crowder, victorious and that would be
worth much When l had taken down
the bar, | stopped a moment
Keep by my side, said IRE
member that we must become separated
by no chance Here. take this pistol
You can shoot, can't you?'
She said Eyes" and took the pistol
Then l opened the door, and we dashed
out, running with quick and noiseless
steps across the open toward the wood,
which rose in dim line ahead of us.
While the window opened toward the
campfire of the besiegers the door did
not and we had gone perhaps 90 yards
before they saw us This knew by the
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 l could see that the dim wood
looked dense and a poor place for the
use of horses
Courage. .Iulia!" | 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 it their time lost
was our gain Unless famed by some
unlucky pistol shot we would surely
gain the wood They fired once or twice,
and heard the thunder of their horses
boots, but | had little fear | still held
thu girls hand In mine, and she made
no effort to draw it away. She was run
ding 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 l had cal
culated, and when our pursuers were
many yards away we dashed into it at
such headlong haste that | tripped over
vine and fell upon my nose, burying
1t IN pile of soft leaves, which saved
1t from harm. But was up again, re-
Joicing at the accident, for in a wood
interlaced with vines horses could make
no progress.
Il hope you are not hurt?" asked
Julia anxiously.
Hurt? Not a bit of it!' | replied.
What blessing these woods are How
dark 1T is i'll here, and what blessing
that is tool
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, 4" said to ,Julio
Tor otherwise might lose you in ali |
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, led the way, curving
among the trees and bushes like brook
winding around the hills in search OF a
level channel. My object was to leave
our pursuers at 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.
think we are safe now," said
There is not one chance in a hundred
20 bring them across our path again.
What a fine woodl What glorious
wood There is no such wood as this in
England 1t grew here especially for
our safety, Julia
1T did grow up in time, - she re-
olled, but now that you think us safe
gain you can call me Miss Howard and
lot Julia
That's true. and now that we are
'aie again l must ask you, Miss How
'rd, as an especial favor to me, to please
luit holding my hand"
i am not holding your hand, Mr.
Marcel y she replied Indignantly st
S you who are holding mine. but Won
hall not do so moment longer. "
She tried to jerk her hand away.
ct her jerk three or four times. and
hen added as an afterthought:
1t is very dark here and there is still
anger that we might become separat.
a. think l will let you hold it lit
le longer but shall endure it merely
ecause it is military necessity"
She gave her hand most violent Jerk
nd it nearly slipped from me, but re-
ewed my grip in time.
"SimDlv uilitarx v,aoosa;.-- >,