The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-15

the strongest The men did not spread
out fan shape, but followed US i'll Il
close group was still sure that we
were gaining, though very slowly and
they seemed to think so, tCo, for pres
emily they fred two or three shots, as if
they hoped to frighten us with spent
balls The girls horse swayed bit to
one side. and l thought he had STUN
bled again, but she said he was merely
startled by the pistol shots, and, pulling
him back into the true course, we gal.
loped on.
We crossed a swell of the earth, and
far out on the plain | saw the dim out
lines of small house, or rather log
cabin, rising from the earth The girl S
horse threw up his head and uttered a
neigh. or rather a Cry or a great sigh.
for it was almost like that of human
being, and staggered from side to side,
his pace sinking quickly from a sure
gallop to shaky trot The horse S
great eyes were distended with pain and
fear, and blood and foam were on his
lips a dark red clot of blood appeared
upon his side, and knew then that one
VI IIl6 JULIUS W LllCd OlOuSuU WOul0
fall short had struck him and the wound
was mortal
Without my hand pulling upon his
rein Old Put stopped and looked at the
other horse with eyes of pity and sor-
row, for he knew what was going to
happen-he knew he was going to lose
one who had been proving himself a
xuortbu r,,,,,i1o ,,,ot op1 co,oraflo
l leaped from Old Puts back and
snatched the girl from the saddle just
as her horse reeled and fell and gave
up his honest lltc with one great groan.
l half lifted, half pushed, the girl
upon Old Puts back, where she sat se-
curely despite the mans saddle. Once
she protested, but l roughly bade her
be silent and obey me and we would es-
cape yet Then she said no more.
''See the house yonder?" l said.
1--WE will reach that and beat them off
Maybe we will find allies there. This
should be patriot region
| rested one arm Oh Old Puts shoul-
der The girl was OIL the horses back,
and |, partly supported by him. ran by
his size. 1t is IL trick that the borderers
will tell you is common and useful
enough Old Put gave me great assist
ance, for he understood, and as we flew
along my feet at times seemed not to
touch the ground.
Our pursuers reached the crest of the
swell and raised shout of triumph as
| they SAW the dead horse in the path and
| the single horse running on carrying
one of the fugitiyes and half carrying
| the other.
/ Itook one quick look backward and
calculated that we would reach the hut
in time. Our pursuers evidently did not
think so for they fired no more shots
The girl was silent, her hands folded
upon the pommel of my saddle and her
face all white again. She left the di
rection of everything to me.
The cabin continued to rise from the
| plain, the corners, the caves and the
roof appearing until it stood before. us
distinct and near at hand.
"Now. Put, old comrade greatest OF
| horses, !" cried, I'VE are nearing the
| goal Show them how much strength
and speed you have kept i'll reserve for
this last effort Show them what you
can do when you try your bestl"
He replied by deed. and ! fairly
swung through the air as we raced
straight to the cabin | expected some
tousled head to appear. reused by the
thunder of so many hoofs but none
came. The cabin remained silent and
lone. There was small garden. but no
fence around either it or the house.
Old Put dashed straight for the door.
as if he knew what was wanted of him.
which. in fact, he did. and stopped FIVE
feet In front Of it so abruptly that the
girl would have shot over his head had
not held her.
She sprang to the ground I slipped
the bride off Old Puts head, gave him
a slap and cried:
"Go!"
He galloped around the house and
disappeared, his hoof beats dying away
in the darkness. Then showed the dool
open and rushed in, dragging the girl
after me. l slammed back the door and
looked for the bar that is commonly
used as a fastening in such frontier
houses There it was, and | showed il
into its place. Nothing but batterine
ram could break in that door nowl
"Safe for the time" cried. 81 defy
them to take us in this fort!''
Then looked around me- The girl,
half fainting, had staggered against the
wall and was leaning there. 1t was 6
house of but a single room. On a wide
brick hearth fire was still burning, ol
rather smoldering, yet it threw out
enough light to disclose the contents o.
the room. No human being was there
Everything of value except the heavy
furniture, which was of the rudest de
scription and worth not much NOR,
than raw lumber, had been removed
and the whole appearance of the plac,
indicated that its occupants had takeI
hasty departure. 1t was easy enough
: to guess the cause. Some poor family
frightened by the converging Of tn,
armies upon this region, and with goo(
reason, too, for no other state was har
ried in this war as was ours of Soutl
Carolina, had gathered up their portable
} goods and fed to safer quarters and per
> haps not an hour before our arrival, a
t the fire still burning proved.
"They might have made things lit
tie more comfortable for us, P" saiC