The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-11-14
CHAPTER NIX.
BUCKS INDISCRETION.

w. us and when we appeared was
attempting to rcassurc Jack,
who had completely collapsed at find
Ing that both Helen and | had diSap-
pcarcd. He went to Helen and politely
offered TO assist her to llight
1--WE must move out Of this ut once"
| said. "All depends upon our getting
down the mountain and into some
town, where these Villains will not
dare follow us All stay here while |
rcconnoitcr"
l had not diSmountcd, and SDurrcd
my hor$" II few hundred yards west
ward, where paused on the verge Of
the plateau. The sun was rising at nv
back and was pouring flood OF light
on the loWlHnhS II thousand feet below.
| swept my eye over the rolling fields
and woodland dotted with towns. vii.
lagos, haml"iS and many Il fair planta-
ton, with It's manor house surrounded
by tn" hutS OF the field hands. Far in
the distance was Il SnakClkc line i'm
the road, moving forward it seemed.
rs reptile crawl&--thr cavalry that
we had so nearly caught the day be-
FORE now on their way back to ioiu
ing trumpet SunorouS enough to reach
them, but there was no hope for Us
now in them, and | brushed away dis
appointment and made Il survey Of the
ground directly before me. nothing but
steep incline, so thickly wooded that
the character of the ground was com.
pl"tcly hidden. On either hand was Il
mountain spur, between which ran Il
creek. ! hcSitHtrd between taking one
or these spurs and following the bed
or the creek. On the spurs we might
he seen; by the creek we would he con.
ccnlcd under the trees. decided in
favor Of the latter. Returning to camp.
! Informed tn" party of my decision.
"Wiil you join us, Captain Beau.
mont?" asked.
"lvc been hunting TO yo' all fo
days. replied th" captain, looking ut
Jack. "NoW I've found yo', I'm not
likely to part with yo'! Together we
can whip In" %urrrilas."
'N0t Il dozen of them. Besides, we've
had enough Of that"
"Whnt are You going to do with the
horses" asked Helen.
"Mount the ladirs," suggested the
captain.
"Thank yu',' observed Jack, "but |
don't care 10 ride on a horse with his
nose pointing to China and his tail at
the stars"
mo one could ride II horse over such
routc,' said |. "Ill take care OF the
stock"
trthrrrd them In the little pocket
we were leaving. knowing-t,M,.:., t,M,..,I / they
W"r" less lil''!,'',t;o J., 60 hctray our where
"n""I$ 10 our enemies there than If
turned thrm loose.
"rhcy'N Marvr," Jack demonstrated.
81 can't help it,"
"rhry shall not!'
"tumC, we have no time TO lose"
But Jack set about collecting what
little grass was to hr had ana p!lng II
nrf"re them. The captain, seeing her
hrtcrminat tiui, was soon on his knees
gathering grass and throwing II In her
apron.
81 hope the delay will not cost us or
lives" ] grumhlru. "Now. Ginger. |
want YOU to go off to the right just na
far as you can ana still keep me IN
sight Buck, You go to the left and ,lu
the same. bat keep close. for it wont
Go for us i 60 each other"
"Jncli can make all sorts O. noises
eats, an owls an hlrds-so yo' caa't tell
'cm," Buck volunteered
"Good! We may have occasion to
use her. You girls keep behind about
the same distance as our nankers.
When we get to the crock, Ginge9 iB to
work down It on the right bank, Buck
Oh the left, while l keep as neaS the
creek as possible. Captain Bca u8zaent,
Will you net rs rear guard"
with pleasure, sir"
"IIc'N so to Sleep" remarked &Bck,
"and be left h2hind"
"Not with you in 'front.'" said tho esp.
tain, looking ut her rcproachfully.
! gave the order to move MakaMg as
little noise rs possible, keeping each
other In sight, except occasionally
when the trees and underbrush we
too thick. we proceeded to the brow OF
the plateau. Descending, we soon
struck the creek and. under cover OF
he trees, proceeded downward in open
order, walking rapidly. keeping Il sharp
poNPtl illti t!l llt llttllhS. w 4
lnd not gone far before an owl hootcd
behind me, and SO natural was the cry
that, had mot been cXpcctngi 1t. Ishould
hevcr have suspected it to have come
from the throat Of Jaquclinc. Turn
ng, ! saw both girls pointing upward.
On the very edge Of the dcclivity and
lot far from where we had begun our
leSccnt man was looking down from
he plateau. We were 50 protected !
hat he could not see us, for, besides |
'elng among the trees. we were in |
shadow, while the lan |
bove stood out boldly in the light. He
i'd not look like n guerrilla, but we
urried on.
Discovering Il great advantage In
ack's signals, | called in the nankcrs
nd the rcarguard and arranged with
hem that Jack was to travel with me
9 trumpeter. The hoot Of an owl