Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-21

We had made the principal part OF
the descent, when, coming to conven-
lent spot, ordered a halt for rest, feel
ing a confidence that l had not felt
since my abduction-a confidence l
should not have yielded to, for we were
yet far from safety. The place Of our
halt was delightful angle in the
stream we were following. Jack stroll
ed away in search of wild flowers and
was soon Joined by Captain Beaumont,
whose infatuation prevented him from
thinking of aught else, even our COM
mon danger. Buck stretched himself
under a short mountain oak, clasped
his hands under his head, threw one
leg over the bent knee Of the other and
looked straight up into the branches.
Helen and l were thus left alone. We
sat down on the bank Of the creek in
view of the bubbling stream. Taking
q slender stick in her hand, Helen be-
gan to thrash the water. 1 saw that
she was troubled, and I knew the
cause. The barrier between US, which
in moment of intense excitement had
faded out of sight, now doomed up
again as ominously as ever. We sat
without speaking. Jack and the cap
tain were chatting briskly, every now
and again speaking loud enough for us
to hear some word that told Of the cap
tain's enthrallment. The silence be-
tween Helen and myself grew painful.
/ could say nothing to break the spell.
I could but mutely express what felt.
Reaching out, 1 took her hand and
| drew her to me.
| A shot!
Looking upward to the plateau, I saw
a horseman dashing Off to the spur
north OF US, whose ridge led to the level
ground we were approaching. 1t was
plain that we had been discovered, that
the shot was signal and the horseman
was going to head us off.
The trouble had all come from Buck
/ have no doubt we should have given
the guerrillas the slip had it not been
for his folly. There are certain lido
syncrasies in boys that are as natural
to them as for duck to swim or a rob
in to fly. Unfortunately, at critical
moment Buck encountered an incident
that called out one Of these idiosyncra
sizes. Gazing into the branches Of the
tree under which he lay, he espied c
birds nest. Unluckily, he noticed thai
rock which admitted of a gradual as
cent stood directly under the tree
Climbing the rock, he made his wa.
among the branches and, leaning IA
out where the bright sun could shin
directly on him, grasped for the treas
ure. Our enemy, who was at the tim
watching from the plateau, discovers
him.
Calling the party together, gave tn
order to push forward; not that ther
seemed to be any object in doing sc
for we must expect to meet our pursu
ers, but we could not go back an
could not stay where we were. BIZ
sides, motion would tend to pull tt
gether the faculties Of the party, ever
one Of whom was appalled, at this rt
lapse into the frightful dangers the
had so long endured. though CAPITAL
! Beaumont showed only irritation 6
! having his tete-a-tete with Jack int
r rupted.
3 We had not gone far before we struc
r a path running parallel with the creel
which led us to a hamlet on a roa
r leading north and south. There WEI
/ but half a dozen houses in the p}ac
8 including small country store and
!, blacksmith shop. Before entering tt
D town we consulted as to what "
{ should do.
sect horses" I proposed, ''if there
: time"
i "Or horse and wagon" said Helen
~ reckon we better hide" was Buck
o proposition.
t @Lets get Clothes" suggested JAG
!. *tand dress up like village people"
0 Il looked at Helen. Jacks propos
( tfon appeared to strike her with II
Q same force IL struck me. OF all thinl
!. the guerrillas would expect us to d
Disgusting ourselves and going abo
the town as If we belonged there wou
(, be the last.
"Done!" said as we entered Il
y place. Scatter. Tell the people Il
guerrillas are after us, and they'll he
8 us. Well have from 10 to is lninut
b to prepare"