New Ulm review., 1901-07-17

the single horse running on, carrying
one Of the fugitives and half carrying
the other
took one quick look backward and
calculated that we would reach the hut
in time. Our pursuers evidently did not
think SO, for they fired no more shots.
The girl was silent, her hands folded
upon the pommel Of my saddle aud her
face all white again She left the di-
rection of everything to me-
The cabin continued to rise from the
plain, the corners, the caves and the
roof appearing until it stood before us
distinct and near at hand
Now, Put, old comrade, greatest of
horses, cried. ''we are nearing the
goall Show them how much strength
and speed you have kept in reserve for
this last effort Show them what you
can do when you try your best!'
He replied by deed, and I fairly
swung through the air as we raced
straight to the cabin. expected some
tousled head to appear, reused by the
thunder Of SO many hoofs, but none
came. The cabin remained silent and
lone. There was a small garden, but no
fence around either it or the house
Old Put dashed straight for the door,
as if he knew what was wanted of him,
which, in fact. he did. and stopped five
feet fn front Of 1t SO abruptly that the
girl would have shot over his head had
not held her.
She sprang to the ground I slipped
the bride off Old Puts head, gave him
a slap and cried;
'sGop,
He galloped around the house and
disappeared, his hoof beats dying away
in the darkness. Then I showed the door
open and rushed in, dragging the girl
after me. slammed back the door and
looked for the bar that is commonly
used as fastening in such frontier
houses. There it was, and I showed it
into its place. Nothing but battering
ram could break in that door nowl
ssSafe for the time!" I cried ct defy
them to take us in this fort II
Then | looked around me.4 The girl,
half fainting, had staggered against the
wall and was leaning there. It was a
house Of but single room. On wide
brick hearth a fire was still burning, or
rather smoldering, yet it threw out
enough light TO disclose the contents of
the room. No human being was there
Everything of value except the heavy
furniture. which was of the rudest de-
scription and worth not much more
than raw lumber, had been removed
and the whole appearance of the place
indicated that it's occupants had taken
a hasty departure. 1t was easy enough
to guess the cause. Some poor family,
frightened by the converging of the,
armies upon this region, and with good
reason, too, for no other state was har-
ried in this war as was ours of South
Carolina, had gathered up their portable
goods and fled to safer quarters and per
haps not an hour before our arrival, as
the fire. still burning proved.
They might have made things lit
tie more comfortable for us, | said
cheerfully, for my spirits had gone up
with leap, but it's good as it is, and
We HdfoH any TlSuG W coHpidlH. MI
South Carolina farmer, whoever you are
and wherever you are, we thank you. :
3 The girl smiled family and walked
mechanically to the fire, where she sat
down on a rude stool and spread out her
fingers before the Goals as if she were
in her home
Take a little of this, - said, for i
saw that she was half dazed. There was
yet a little whisky left in my flask, and
] handed it to her. She obeyed me like
a child and drank 1t
a.. s----s.saz