The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-02-22
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startled morse reared, Jefkeu Une Drlule
ont of my hand and ran away
"Goodby, Mr. Rebell' she shouted,
and drawing her whip across her own
horse galloped off in the opposite direc-
tion.
I believe l swoIe | was angry and
alarmed, too. for this girl, with her
messages anu accurate news about us,
was formidable enemy, escaped, and
might cause the destruction of the en-
tire army of the south and the loss of
all the southern colonies. | drew pis-
tol, it being my idea to kill the horse,
but it was a SHOT that could not risk
thrust the pistol back in my pocket
and ran after my horse. He was 80 or
40 yards away, half mad with rage and
pain, his bride swinging beside him.
am q very good runner, but do not
claim to be as swift as horse. Never
theless | made speed as | ran after him,
and whistled and shouted with vigor
that must have convinced him of my
intentions. looked back once, and the
girl and the horse she rode were growing
smaller as they sped over the desolate
and unfenced Gelds. My need of horse,
too, was growing more pressing. Mount
ed, there was hope; afoot. there was
none
l whistled all the calls that a friend
ly and well treated horse should know
and meantime did not neglect to run
after him with the best speed that
could command Presently he seemed to
Il kl,oA r
not res souslple for the blow. He slack
ened his pace, looked back over his
shoulder at me and whinnied. I whis-
tied encouragingly, he whinnied again,
and, remembering who ! was, his best
friend, came to full stop, for he was a
most intelligent horse In half a min
ME / esss-eertU0k hf1n, 1eaped into the sad
die and turned his head the other way
"Now, old horse, - cried, "you can
gallop but you gallop my way"
wore my spurs, and | gave him a
touch of the steel That was enough,
for he was always ambitious and proud
of his speed, and away we flew over the
fields after the disappearing girl She
was full quarter of mile away, and
her figure was growing dim OH the hori-
zon. Another quarter of a mile and
she would be in the woods, where the
concealment of the trees would enable
her to elude my pursuit Moreover,
these English girls are often daring
horsewomen, and even at the distance l
could see that she rode like a trooper.
But ! knew the country, and she did
nd I hNro6 fa =
chance that would enable me to over
take her.
l encouraged my horse. l did more
than encourage appealed to his pride
and his sense of gratitude reminded
him how had ridden him all the way
from the Hudson when l came south
with Greene; how had tended him and
cared for him and fed him, often when
| was compelled to go hungry myself
appealed to him now not to let that
girl escape when so much depended ON
her capture, when | would he eternally
disgraced. and he with me- if we per-
mitted ourselves to be tricked and out
witted at such a time by one red checked
English girl
He was sensible horse, and he un-
derstood. He said nothing, not even a
little snort, but his stride heightened
and the swift and regular. beat of his
hoofs on the turf was music.
GOOD horse, Old Put good ladr' !
said | had named him Put after Old
Put, the famous old Connecticut gen
eral, because he was so reliable and
steady He shook his ears slightly as q
! sign that he would do his best for me,
having no time to say more, and he ran
little faster | kept sharp watch for
stones and holes in the ground, having
no mind to risk fall which might ruin
| all, and nursed my comrades strength,
| for on land as we'll as sea stern chase
is long one
The figure of the girl and the horse
she rode was growing larger, good proof
that l was gaining, which was not
enough. however. for | might continue
to gain, and yet she could elude me in
the woods unless | was close upon her
when she reached them Her long hair
had fallen down and was streaming be-
hind her like ribbon of spray with the
sunshine on it, but felt like giving
that yellow hair jerk just then could
! have put my hands upon it.
STEADY, Putl" said to my faithful
comrade. do You see that girl with
the yellow hair? Yesy Well, note the
horse that she is riding, common troop
horse clumsy i'll bred, no pedigree
Are you going to let yourself be beaten
by him?"
His ears wagged violently, and he
ran foot to the second faster We
] struck piece of beautiful turf, evident
ly an old field left to itself until it could
recover its fertility and with the soft
grass deadening and easing his footballs
Old Put raced for life | could almost
count the yards that we gained, and
still she was not in the forest She had
not looked back until then. and it was
a hasty glance. followed by quick
lashing of her mount judged that
she, too, had noticed the gain and would
now be unmerciful to her horse. was
exultant willing to boast of it, and ]
shared my feelings with Old Put
Notice that yellow haired girl again,
Put, ! said when we catch her this
time, we will take care that she does
not serve us such a trick again If we
cannot trust an Englishman. Put, bow
on earth can we put any faith in an