New Ulm review., 1901-06-19
CHAPTER II.
KEEPING A PRISONER.

.
across the way, and she was within 30
Feet of the wood. She took another hnr-
ried look at me, and seeing my rapid
gain alarm appeared on her face She
drew little toy pistol from the cloak
/ she wore and leveled it at me, or at
least that seemed to be her intention.
call it toy pistol, because /, a full
grown soldier, would have felt deep
shame had I been caught with such a
weapon in my possession. She pulled
/ the trigger, and the bullet cut the un-
complaining air somewhere, but not in
my neighborhood. This bombardment
cost her at least 20 feet of gain, but she
| thrust the terrible weapon back in her
cloak and galloped on, with Old Put
| laundering at her heels. Then she was
into the wood, and was not far be-
hind, shouting to her to stop; that
would surely overtake her and she was
merely wasting the breath of both our
horses and our own Still she paid no
heed, guiding her horse between the
trees and through the bushes with CON
siderable skill.
But seeing the wood thicken, pres
obvious now that the end of the race
had come and / was the winner. The
wood became SO dense, the bushes clus-
tering in thickets and the vines inter
lacing from tree to tree, that it formed
an impenetrable wall. What had fear
ed would help her had been my best
ally.
She stopped short and sat stifdy on
her horse, her back turned to me. l
wondered if she would draw out that
amazing pistol again and threaten me
with it, but she made no such attempt,
evidently having arrived at wisdom at
last. She dropped the stump of her
switch on the ground and kept the back
of her head toward me- Some beams of
sunshine came through the tall trees
and cleaned across the long curls Of
tawny gold, tingeing them for the mo.
ment as if with fire.
I rode up by her side, and then, as she
seemed to reprove me, asked Old Put
to take me around in front of her.
There could coe her face. It was pale,
sad and reproachful, and tear ran
down either cheek. For the moment l
felt a little pity for her despite her per-
verse nature and all the trouble she had
given me.
81 am sorry have to do this, y said.
1 Sorry for what?' she asked.
I saw that | had made mistake
One should always be polite to wom-
an, but never apologetic.
That / had to overtake you, y l said.
Yours is the better horse, !" she said,
wiping away the tears with an angry
little brush of the hand. 81 like to ride,
and always enjoy a good race. That
was the reason | challenged you to it,
though l did not know you had such a
| good horse =
This was new view of the case, but
had a thought, or, rather, a reflection
1t was a good race, = l said. but
WASH t that false start?'
How sop
! Didn't you take an advantage?"
was entitled to it. am woman.
so women expect to carry that rule
even into warfare?''
Certainly =
was glad that / had never been
forced to wage war with a woman be-
fore and hoped never to meet the neces-
sity again. One likes to stick to the
rules in military matters, and then he
has some idea what to expect.
The horses are very tired, " said
They look like it, = said She
The poor animals were painting, and
their coats were damp. took the reins
of her horse from her hand and held
them firmly in mine.
What are you going to do?" she
asked
! i think I'd better hold the reins Of
both, I" 1 said will you please dis
mount?''
| set her good example by jumping
down myself. She could not say that
the prisoner was compelled to walk
while the captor rode. I stepped for
ward to assist her, but again she refused
my help and sprang to the ground unas-
sisted.
Old Put gazed angrily at the girl who
had struck him. Then he snorted with
triumph and looked contemptuo at
the horse at his side The latter seemed
to be ashamed of himself, and his atti-
tude was apologetic, but he had done
his best and therefore should not have
been blamed.
.sCome, said, 1--WE will get out of
| this wood and walk back across the
fields. Walk by my side. l will watch
you, as do not want any more treach-
cry
/ spoke with great sternness, as the
mite of pity I felt when saw the tears
had gone. She obeyed with surprising
meekness and walked beside me, while
led the horses, holding both brides in
one hand. / was glad that I had been.
so sharp with her, and saw now it
was the proper way with rebeIlious
women. A man has only to show to-
ward them a sterns unyielding temper,
and they submit at once She was
| crushed, and again that mite of pity
| rose up in my breast. for nearly always