The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-22
CHAPTER VII
THE TEMPER OF OLD PUT.


THE TEMPER OF OLD PUT.
Ny fears found ample justification,
for the men soon turned their attention
to the horse, and two rose and approach
ed him looked upon him as one i'm
pounded, and he alone was to blame,
for he should have known better. One
of the men. made wide circuit and
came up carefully behind, while the
other approached with equal caution
from the front, whistling in soft and
coaxing way and holding out his hand.
Evidently the men appreciated the value
of a good horse, and no doubt they had
stolen enough from patriot farmers to
have experience. Old Put never raised
his head to look at them, but continued
his hunt for blades of grass He certain
ly heard their approaching footsteps, and
I was convinced now that his dotage
was really at hand.
''I thought you said he was the most
intelligent of US three said the girl
ironically. land here he is, gone to sleep
and letting himself be taken, to be used
perhaps as common cart horse. "
Her words were an insult to Us both,
Old Put and me, but knew no timely
reply, and I endured them in silence.
The man in front, emboldened by Old
Puts gentleness, approached more rap
idly and was soon within Is feet of the
horse. Old Put raised his head, and
looking at the man moment lowered
it and went on nipping the grass
The man holding out his hand stepped
forward and seized Old Put by the neck
The horse, with 9 neigh that was human
in its anger, turned and bit deep into his
shoulder. a scream, wilder, more fear
ful than any heve ever heard before or
since, rose from the mans throat as the
horse reared high in the air and lnote
him to the earth with his fore feet. The
girl turned her eyes away IN horror as
the man was crushed to pulp beneath
the fierce beat of the steel shod hoofs,
time for but one cry being given to
him, but kept mine at the crevice,
though l will confess that the blood
was rather chilly torrent in my veins.
The other man, the one behind, faced
about and fed when he saw the death
Of his comrade, and the one look that I
had of him showed fright to the mar
row. The horse, raising his head, trot-
ted away over the hill The moonlight
fell upon him there in distorted rays
and enlarged him into a gigantic figure
In the gray light he looked like some
phantom horse, a wild creature that
brought death.
The band, recovering from the mo-
mentary paralysis caused by the sudden
acquaintance Of their comrade with
death, snatched out their pistols and
fred at the horse as they would have
fred at man in his place, but their
aim was wild, for the horse gave no
sign OF a bullet, trotting steadily on,
his figure growing larger and more
threatening IN the exaggerating rays of
the moonlight. until he disappeared be-
yond the swell of the earth. The thing
that had been living lay in the dead
grass, and I was glad that it was hid
den almost by some rocks and the roll
of the earth
"He is gone, Julia, said, "and I
don't think those men will try to take
my horse again.
laughed little, with rather forced
gayety, for the influence Of the sudden
tragedy was still upon ne. Yet was
glad that Old Put had redeemed him
self so conclusively from the charge Of
incaution and dotage, which would
never again bring against him, even
should they come to be true in the
course of the years.
The girl came back to the crevice, and
we watched the British for some min
utes After the hasty discharge Of the
pistols they returned to the fire, making
no movement either to pursue Old Put
or to remove the body Of their dead
comrade They would have liked we'll
enough to obtain good horse, but they
were not going to bother about such
rihe as dead man
''Do you think they will attack us:''
asked the girl.
well, no; not yet, at least. l re-
piled. 1.-The advantages OF the defense
are too great, and these men are mere
raiders and robbers They are not going
into dangerous venture unless the
chances are on their side. Perhaps they
think we will become frightened and
surrender tomorrow /"
''You surely will not do that:''
~ had no such intention, worthless
rebel as am, but if you say surrender
I Will go out and notify them this min
ate. y
"You know 1 meant nothing of the
kind
She spoke rather sharply, and leav-
ing the window went back to the table,
which she began to clear away She
gathered up the scraps and put them
back neatly Then she brushed the
crumbs off in her hand, for lack of any
thing else. and threw them in the fire,
and having done that pushed the table
fo ono side acajnSf the wall made no