The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-26

by the nuts or the HELD hand3. Far IN
the distance was a snakelilSe line IN
the road. moving forward. IL seemed.
as reptile crawls--the cavalry that we
had so nearly caught the doy before. now
on their way back to join the main force.
! longed for a speaking trumpet sonorous
enough TO reach them, hut there was no
hope for US now I'm them, and / brushed
away Disappointment and aade survey
OF the ground directly before me-noth-
ing but steep incline. so thickly wooded
that the character OF the ground was
completely hidden. On either hand was
a mountain spur. between which ran q
creek. 1 hesitated between taking one
OF these spurs and following the bed
OF the creek. On tho spurs we might
be seen: by the creek we would be con-
called under the trees. decided IN favor
OF the latter. Returning to camp, / In
formed the party OF my decision.
will you join us, Captain BeaumontT'
I asked.
i've been hunting 70 you all To-
days" replied the captaia looking at
Jack. Now I've found yo'. I'm not like
ly 10 part with yo'l Together we can
whip the guerrillas
Not dozen OF them. Besides. we've
had enough OF that"
What are you going to do with the
horses?" asked Helen.
Mount the ladies'" suggested the cap
tain.
Thank yo," observed Jack. but I
don't care to ride on a horse with his
nose pointing 10 China and his tail at
the stars"
''No one could ride horse over such
n route" said l. 'Tn take care OF the
stock"
tethered them In the little pocket
we were leaving knowing that they were
less likely 10 betray our whereabout TO
our enemies there than II i turned them
loose.
They'll starve," Jack reconstructed
II cant help H."
They shall notl"
Come we have no time to lose
But Jack set about collecting what
little grass was 10 be had ani piling II De-
fore them. The captain, seeing her de-
termination. was soon on his knees gath-
ering grass and throwing It In her apron.
II hope the delay will not cost u5 %!
lives" l grumbled. Now. Ginger,
want you TO go of 10 the right just as
far as you can and still keep me IN sisnt
Buck. you go to the left and do the same
but keep close. for II won't do for us 10
call 10 each other"
Jack can make all sorts o noises
cats, an owls an birds-so yo' can't ten
'em." Buck volunteered.
"Goodl We may have occasion 10 use
her You girls keep behind about the
same distance as our hankers. Wnen
we get to the creek. Ginger Is 10 WORK
down It on the right bank. Buck on the
possible. Captain Beaumont, VIII you
act as rear guard?'
with pleasure. sir.
Hell go TO sleep" remarked jack,
land be left behind
mot with YOU in front" said the cap
tain, looking at her reproachfully.
gave the order TO move Making as
M.
other In sight. except occasionally when
the trees and under brush were too thick.
we proceeded 10 thebrow OF the plateau
Descending we soon struck the creek
and under cover of the trees, proceeded
downward in open order, walking rapid
ly, keeping a sharp lookout ahead ana on
the tanks We had not gone far before
an owl hooted behind me, end so natural
was the cry that, had not been expect
ing II. I should never have suspected II
10 have come from the throat or Jaque-
line Tur9ing, l saw both girls pointing
upward On the very edge of the declivi-
" and not far from where we had be-
gun our descent man was looking oown
from the plateau. We were so protected
that he could not see us, for. besides
being among the trees, we were In com
DE sratlve shadow. while the man above
stood out body in the light. He did not
look like a guerrilla. but we .4urried on
Discovering great advantage In
Jacks signals, I called In the fiankers
and the rearguard and arranged with
them that Jack was TO travel with me as
trumpeter The hoot OF an owl would
mean hide" a woodpecker's rapping
'rally on the center" the notes OF
thrush take a back track" hens cack-
ling push forward in haste" These
signals being perfectly understood, we
opened again and advanced like central
sun and satellites
We had made the principal part OF
the descent when, coming to conven-
lent spot, / ordered halt for rest. feel
ing a confidence that had not felt since
my abduction--a confidence / should not
have Yielded TO, for we were yet far from
safety. The place OF our halt was de-
lightful angle In the stream we were fol-
lowing. Jack strolled away In search or
wild flowers and was soon Joined by Cap
tain Beaumont, whose infatuation pre-
vented him from thinking Of aught else.
even our common danger. Buck stretch
ed himself under a short mountain oak,
clasped his hand under his head threw
one leg over the bent knee of the other
and looked straight up into the branches.
Helen and I were thus left alone. We
sat down on the bank OF the creek In
view OF the bubbling stream. Taking
a slender stick in her hand. Helen be-
gan to thrash the water saw that
she was troubled and / knew the cause.
The barrier between us, which In mo-
ment OF intense excitement had faded
out OF sight. now loomed up again as
ominously as ever. We sat without speak
ing. Jackand tho captain were chatting
briskly, every nova nd again speaking
loud enough for us TO hear some word
that told OF the captains enthrallment.
The silence between Helen and myself
grew painful l could say nothing to
break the spell. i could but mutely eX-
press what | felt. Reaching out. 1 took
her hand ard drew her TO me.
Looking upward TO the plateau. ! saw
a horseman dashing of 10 the spur north
ryyr-ysyIy---,--v ---,--vS------~----r--