The times., 1901-06-23


den. and I knew that the frolie had be-
he cried 'Hae ye no heard there's neith-
er sword nor pistol can touch Charlie
Stuart?"
Fire" cried the captain. and I could
hear that anger was putting all his judg-
ment at fault.
There was the roar of firearms a
further shattering of glass, and down the
wind a blue-white haze of smoke trailed
lightly. This did not trouble me, for
Archie MacGregOr was not the man TO
draw an enemys fire before he was ready
to escape it. | edged my horse more
squarely across the narrow lane-top, and
pointed toward the mill.
''Haye they shot him?''I cried. Go to
the bend, some of you, and see IL help is
needed at the front, while the rest of US
keep watch upon the lane here"
Accustomed TO obey. without using their
wits over-much, they turned their eyes
away from the lane, and some Of them
rode slowly toward the mill. But 1, for
my part, looked down into the miller's
garden and saw a figure. in plaid and
Highland bonnet, steal shadOwy between
the boX-shrubs and the orchard trees. To
my surprise, another figure fOllOwed-and,
as I live, daft Archie halted at the very
edge of peril to put an arm about the
rniller's daughter and to stoop his lips to
hers Not FIVE yards from his. at the
turning of the lane! ] could hear his horse
neigh fretfully; and when he showed not
content with the one kiss embrace. but
tarried for dozen at the least, cursed
him by every dulcet oath / had acquired
in camp and field.
Ny men had seen nothing as yet, for 1
blocked their view, and they were trust
ing altogether to my eyes: but from the
mill there came a shouting and a tramp
of feet and I knew that our game WAS
UP If Archie lost a single moment more.
The half of that moment, priceless as 1t
was, he wasted on the miller's daughter,
and then he leaped the hedge, and i drew
breath again.
1t was a nice opportunity for judgment.
this. II l led my troopers forward too
soon, Archie would have but an indiffer=
ent start of us; If too late, pursuit would
be out of question, and Prince Charlie
would never see those ten-scOre soldiers
! had promised him. AS | halted, know
ing that MacGregor must be in the saddle
and away, yet wishful to secure him
better advantage, the captain and score
or so of his fellows came running out
INTO the garden, and so decided me.
He has got the better of u.s." | cried,
turning to my troopers. I'm with your
spurs. men, and Wen catch him If we
have to follow till the dawn comes up
i started forward at the gallop; they
followed, and by-and-by / heard another
band of men come laundering after us,
and kneW-as | had guessed it would be-
that the captain was not minded to fore
go all credit in this enterprise. And, as
we rode, l thanked His Majesty of Hano-
yer for laying those thirty thousand
pounds upon the Princes head, since
without, such Iucre l think the captain
would have led one half of his men back
to Sir Peter Talbot's and have left me to
secure Prince Cnarlie's person.
The lanesled us shortly into the main
road to Congleton, and, two furlongs Off
at -furtheSt,- we saw MacGregor galloping
like the wind. My faith! 1t was pretty.
and. though Isay it, we played this game
as well as need be. Our horses, Arehis's
and mine, Were less heavy in the build
and less weighted down with accoutrc-
ments than our enemies; we could either
of us have distanced them outright within
mile, had it been our interest. But IL
was not our interest; each time that the
pursuit seemed like to lose its interest
MacGregor slackened, and / spurred for
ward with shout; and there was not one
man among the troopers who thought of
anything except the fever of the chase.
All, mei to live those few wild minutes
once again. The two Of us again ten
score. and we the masters of them, If we
coald but keep their Zest at fever point.
The moonlit meadowlands of Staffordshire
swifled past us down the wind; through
Hanley village, Bursem, funston, we dug
the rowels in. and reused the heavy-sleep-
ing rustics from their bed On till we
gained the Cheshire flats. and the sparks
few up from OFF the frost-bound road like
fire from stricken snitfy-iron.
we shall lose, him; he viii gain his
army" the captain painted, riding to my
left
1--WE head for Congleton, and his army
sleeps. at Leek." / laughed. HSee, see he
faiIs We have him.'
I lifted myself in the stirrups and yelled
we were all but on him. and a pistol bull
let whispered in his ear in passing; then
he plucked at the curb again, and again
the stormy chase began.
But two miles nova mile-and Archie's
mare was swaying like drunkard as she
went.
1 gathered the reins more tightly. 1
glanced at the captain, and the ten-score
men behind US. And then 1 drove my
spurs in with a will. and shouting Fol
low, follow" l gained on them, stride
over stride, until l was level with Mac
| Gregor's staggering mare.
Another lalf-mile if she dies for It, /
painted and snatched the 5ugle that was
swaying at my back and set my lips to IT,.
Clear as a bell, and loud as a thunder
clap amid the night the call to boot-and-
| saddle rang down the dizzy wind And
| those behind saw how the matter lay at
last, and Archie and / were gall0ping I'M
der bullet-haii toward the roughlywak-
| ened camp.
She's DONE" gasped Archie suddenly.