The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-27
WINE,S s(ARIlJI,

he knew it was long past midnight A
northwest wind had swept away the
promise of rain, and though there was
no moon, a clear gray brilliance filled
the sky. He scrambled up and stirred
the brands-they were dank and cold.
Water had been thrown upon them.
Just outside the fire-circle Joe lay,
breathing heavily. Black Sam was
snoring a yard beyond. Johnny shook
them hard. They did not stir. He
sprang toward the blanket spread for
Lucas Robin. 1t was empty, tossed into
huddled heap. Trembling all over, he
ran toward the meadow. In the edge of
it Shadrach sat his horse, fast asleep.
Squire Gleaves was nowhere visible.
But the drove had begun to stir, neigh
ing here or there, keen complaint.
No answer to the complainings!
Johnny knew what that meant-the
bell mare had been stolen. Lucas Rob
in was the thief. Intuitively the lad
snatched a halter and rushed into the
thick of the drove, now all standing,
and half of it whickering distress. The
horses snorted and edged away as he
wound in and out. More than one let
fly at him with viciously nimble heels,
but he kept on undaunted until he
found what he sought-Damsel
'Lightly's four-year-old half sister and
her match in speed and stay.
In a twinkling he had scrambled up
and was out on the road. There he let
his single rein fall loose-Damsel her
self must chose the way. Once she
was settled in the course he knew he
could come up with the robber The
others had been drugged, no doubt
he recalled that Robin had made them
drink after supper from his pocket
flask. Johnny had refused the offered
dram, because he had promised Miss
Alice never to drink until he was 81.
Miss Alice! He was going to bring
back the bell mare and save the drove
for her. She said ingratitude was
the blacklist sin of also he could not
let himself be ungrateful.
From the Big Meadow the trace ran
south, straight and almost level for
ten miles. Then it branched, one fork
leading into the foothills that twenty
miles further on were mountains. the
other keeping well to the plains. DAM
sci whickered three times turning her
head now this way, now that, listened
breath's space, snorted, then struck
into a trot, and went due south. An
owl flew across the way, a little higher
than Johnny's head, hooting loudly, its
eyes showing fiery in the dusk. In the
dark woods, either hand, there were
long CLEANS of ox-fire-mists rose
white from the damp places. crickets
shrilled, and whip poor wills sent out
their weird crying.
Johnny was superstitious He had no
fear whatever of Lucas Robin, but the
owl, the foX-fire, the whip-poor-wi
daunted him-he was about to turn
back. But as he pondered it, choice
left him. Behind him, through the star
lit dusk, there sounded the thunder of
200 hoofs, following a new leader to
seek out the old. Damsel was gallop-
ing easily. AS she caught the noise
behind she swung into a dead run.
John could do nothing but sit still,
keep her head up, and let her run.
The drove was in mad stampede. If
he tried to turn back it would tram
pie him.
On, on, they flew, mile after mile,
yet still the weighted racer led the I'M
weighted ones. In that free course, as
upon all others, blood told. Before that
of it was past, only the pick of the
drove ran hot upon the young mares
heels. Johnny sat far forward. His
terrors had left him-he had caught the
spirit of the race, and was ready for
any fate. once when he heard a lone
cock-crow faint and far off he an
swered with a quavering yell Once,
too. a fox barked, and he Knocked it
with a shriller bay. Damsel swerved a
little as she heard the crying. Thus
gray Glider ran up to her. and even
flung himself prone along her neck and
shouted in her ear. shrill, sweet, half
articulate, maddeningly clear. She
knew the CALL and answered it gallant
ly In three bounds she was clear of
the gray. running strong and free, as
though she never meant to stop. A
hundred yards further on, she neighed
ioyously. Johnny's heart came in his
mouth-for down wind. low and keen
he heard an answering neigh.
He was coming up with the thief
with Lightly. What should he-what
could he do2 He had a claspknife in
his belt-otherwise he was unarmed
still he did not despair. II the man
led Lightly instead OF Kidding her, she
would break from him and come back
10 the drove when she heard Johnpy's
call Then he must mount her and ride
for a. She would run for him as for
nobody else In the world. White foot
the tagged chestnut. would never catch
her OF course, there was the chance
that Lucas Robin might shoot-may-
be- that was what the owl and fox
IRE and the whip po0r-will had meant
But n was too late now 20 change
auythlug-doKRedly he rode on, COn-