The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-01


but it was shot that could not risk.
I 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 very good runner, but do not
claim to be as swift as horse. Never
theless I made speed as l ran after him,
and whistled and shouted with vigor
that must have convinced him Of my
intentions. l looked back once, and the
girl and the horse she rode were growing
smaller as they sped over the desolate
and unfenced fields My need of a horse,
too, was growing more pressing Mount
ed, there was hope: afoot, there was
none
whistled all the calls that 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
understand and to remember that was
not responsible for the blow. He slack
ened his pace, looked back over his
shoulder at me and whinnied / whis-
tied encouragingly, he whinnied again,
and, remembering who / was, his best
friend, came to full stop, for be was
most intelligent horse. In half o min
ute overlook him, leaped into the sad
die and turned his head the other way
''Now, old horse" l cried, "you can
gallop, but you gallop my way. .
wore my spurs. and gave him
touch Of the steel That was enough,
for he was always ambitious and proud
of his speed, and away we few over the
fields after the disappearing girl She
was full quarter Of mile away, and
her figure was growing dim on the hori,
zon Another quarter of 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 |
could see that she rode like trooper.
But knew the country, and she did
not, and hoped to secure from it some
chance that would enable me to over
take her
encouraged my horse. l did more
than encourage appealed to his pride
and his sense of gratitude l reminded
him how had ridden him all the way
from the Hudson when / came south
with Greene; how had tended him and
cared for him and fed him, often when
| was compelled to go hungry myself
I appealed to him now not to let that
girl escape when so much depended on
her capture when would be eternally
disgraced, and be with me, if we per-
mitted ourselves to be tricked and out
witted at such time by one red checked
English girl
He was sensible horse. and he IN
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 ladp' l
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
sign that he would do his best for me,
having no time to say more, and he ran
little faster kept a 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 lard as we'll as sea stern chase
is long ae
The figure Of the girl and the horse
she rode was growing larger, good proof
that was gaming. which was not
enough. however for l 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 a ribbon of spray with the
sunshine on 1t. but felt like giving
that yellow hair jerk just then could
have put my hands upon 1t
Steady. Putt said to my faithful
comrade do you see that girl with
the yellow hair. Yes! Well, note the
horse that she is riding. common troop
horse. clumsy. Ill bred. no pedigree
Are you gong to let yourself be beaten
by him?'
His ears wagged violently. and he
ran foot to the second faster We
struck a piece of beautiful turf, evident
ly an old field left to itself until it could
recover its fertility and with the soft
grass deadenlng 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
hasty glance followed by quick
lashlng 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 trick again II we
cannot trust an Englishman. Put, how
on earth can we put any faith In an