The National tribune., 1901-06-06

for knew l could not hope to keep it.
Climbing off | turned it toward home and
hit it smart cut with stick.
l watched 1t bound away; then picking
up my yalise | struck into the woods
which skirted small stream and plodded
on until the first CLEANS of daylight
warned me to seek a hiding-placc.
Looking around me | saw a clump of
bushes over which there was a perfect
network of vines. and | at once decided
to hide there. On close inspection | was
more than pleased with my choice, for
after | had secreted myself within this
natural arbor | felt person might pass
within two feet Of me and never dream OF
my being there.
/ lay down. thinking would rest until
1t got lighter. and then change my clothes
and disguise myself: but, worn out as l
was, | immediately dropped to sleep, and
knew no more until someone shook me
roughly by the shoulder, and / looked up
to encounter the insolent gaze of Serg't
Bowdin. who was bending over me-
"Hih, You didn't expect to see me, did
your he said with sneer. tumble up,
here. Well see who comes out ahead.
Do you hear mef Get out of here" and
he fOurished a revolver in front of my
eyes.
"Ali right" said |. feigning to agree
with him. and slowly raising up; then.
with sudden, unexpected blow / sent
the weapon flying out of his hand and the
next instant my left hand shot forward,
and he dropped like lead. Quickly pick
ing up the revolver. / dealt him a blow
that | felt sure would keep him quiet for
some time; then seizing my valise | lost
no time in leaving the arbor
| saw that | had slept all day. for it
was now fast getting dark. | looked
around. half expecting to see some SOL
Il In~c Ittt f.,,N 4
10 sapling. evidently the one the Ser
geant had ridden.
at once decided to appropriate the
horse for my own use, and quickly Ioosng
it | mounted and started off
Almost at the same instant / heard n
yell IN the rear. aud looking back | saw a
squad OF soldiers coming forward at u
furious pace.
Putting spurs to my horse | was off at
full speed, and for a time gained on them,
but | felt sure they would eventually
catch me il | did not resort to some STRAIT
egy. @s9Al
My horse could not keep its present
speed very long, encumbered as it was
by the added weight of my yalise, and
bold plan of slipping off and sending the
horse on ahead, while | hid in the I,ushe.
| until my pursuers had passed.
1t took but moment for me to put this
idea into execution. / hit the horse a
hard blow with a stick as / turned il
loose, and it went bounding up the road
at full speed, and a minute later, safely
concealed in the bushes, | heard my pur-
suers go Gathering by riding like mad. /"
As soon as they were past | picked up
| my valise and, leaving the woods, where
! felt sure i would be looked for | struck
off across the open country.
All night was stumbling along, and
just rs the first rosy tint of morning ap-
peared in the east | came to some woods
on the banks OF large stream.
| had had nothing to eat for about 4S
| hours, and was almost famished Find
ing some berries. | ravcnously devoured
them by handfuls.
Then, when my hunger was in part an
peased, | commenced to think of a hiding
place, and short distance ahead Of me
! saw what looked like an old, tumble
F, down building.
A few minutes walk brought me to it,
aud l found on closer inspection that it
was not in nearly so bad condition as
! at first thought. 1t was old and weather
| beaten, to be sure, aud somewhat racked
| but the timberS were not decayed and I
| felt sure il would afford me excellent shell
| ter.
| found an old, rickety ladder leading
up into the garret. and / at once decided
to go up there and pull the ladder up ar
| ter me to prevent anyone following should
| l happen to have visitors.
In the garret / found some old. musty
hay, upon which 1 at once lay down. plac-
| ing my revolver by my travelling bag,
which l used as pillow.