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

If the men could see at all, it was but
dimly, though they could follow us by
the hoof beats of our horses and the
tearing of the vines and slapping CT the
bushes as we passed. They made such o
prodigious cursing and swearing that
we were never in any doubt as to where
they were. had mind for moment
to send toward them pistol ball which
would stop their fuss, but | concluded
that the more noise they made the bet
ter it would be for us, as it gave US ex-
act warning of their approach. They
did not seem to be gaining upon us.
which was q satisfaction for the present.
Out ON the plain they would see us
moro distinctly, but l believed that our
horses could leave them there.
saw q beam of light shining through
the latticework of the boughs and then
another and another and knew that we
would soon be in the open. The gjrl's
horse stumbled, and she uttered little
cry of dismay, but in moment the
horse was steady on his feet again, and
we went on. The beams grew more
numerous and fused into broad shield
of moonlight Two minutes more and
we would be out of the wood and into
the cleared ground, with the fields rae
ing behind u.s.
Against its broad silver disk we were
silhouetted like the man i'll the moon,
and the popping of pistols told us that
we had become good targets Que bull
let passed so close to my head that
thought it must have cut a lock Ut hair
in its passage. and l took it as warn
ing to hurry.
Haste, Miss Howardp' | said I'VE
want to be beyond pistol shot i'll the
cleared ground. for the light will help
them there "
She was riding we'll, and her express
sion was firm and courageous. We
shook the reins against the necks of our
horses, and taking the chances of bush
and vine sped into the open as volley
of pistol shots whlstled after US
/ uttered shout half of pleasure,
half Of defiance, to our pursuers and
babe Old Put show them what it was
for real horse to run his best had
confidence, too, in the horse that the
girl rode, for he was long limbed He
looked like strong animal. and he Ger
tainly had clean, fast gait that kept
him alongside of Old Put
regarded our escape as assured, and
the girl seemed to take like view of
the case. Relief showed i'll her eyes
Miss Howard" said cheerfully
aud egotistically. Il congratulate you
1n the improvement in your company.
"At any rate, you are still a rebel.
with rope around your neck. !"
II seem to have been preferred to the
British behind us, who do not have
ropes around their necks, but deserve
them. Remember that ride with you
vt your own invitation.
'Then you consider me still your
prisoner"
"Oh, l am yours; but, whether one or
the other, am to be guide ~
The men behind us were silent and
we were sure Of gaining upon them.
could see their figures rising out of the
plain in the misty gray light, gigantic
and distorted in shape, and the thud,
thud of their horses hoofs, as regular
as the ticking of clock, came to oul
ears
(Which way do we go?'' asked the
girl.
ITO Morgan, of course"
"Then l shall soon be with my father
and friends again..
"Why do you think sop
because Tarleton will certainly take
Morgan, and of course I shall be re-
taken"
She looked at rue with much of the
old sparkle and defiance and the abso
lutte faith in British valor that British
defeats seemed unable to shake. Iva.
annoyed. and my patriotic pride was
hurt.
"You seem to take it for granted thai
Tarleton will win if he should overtake
Morgan"
II do"
"Yet you have heard the news from
Kings Mountain?'
"a chance, an accident.
'The same chance, the same accident
may happen again"
Never
could not say her nay, for were We
not retreating steadily before the ad
vance OF Tarleton, retreat that seemed
to all to be the part of wisdom, fol
! again let it be said that we were fewel
in numbers, far inferior in equipment
and more than half of our little army
were raw troops, farmersi The exhila
ration of the flight and escape disap
peared for the time, and heavy depres
sion took its place