The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-21
sodes. left me to turn again to what was
far more interesting TO them.
CHAPTER XII


STEALING THE GUNS
Jaqueline once more became an object
OF undivided interest. The men crowded
about her. staring at her. uttering ex-
clamations OF admiration, vainly seeking
a way TO do her honor Presently they
cut saplings. out OF which they con-
structed a rude chair. decorating II with
twigs, and one Ill favored bandit. to
whom nature had impaired spark of
art, gathered wild flowers with which TO
put on finishing touches. When the seat
was completed, the men looked awkward
iy at Jack. and the captain, presenting
the tips OF his fingers. led her TO her i'm
provised throne. Helen. who at the frst
sign that was to be temporarily spared
had recovered her equanimity and her
infused some OF her restored courage into
Jack. saw at once the advantage of keep
Ing up her cousins popularity. Selling
some or the flowers, she wove them on a
framework OF green twigs into a cir
cular garland and insisted on crowning
the favorite, not queen OF May. for May
had not yet come, but queen OF month
far more appropriate-April.
BY this time night had come on, a roar
ing fire was lighted. and the guerrillas.
forming ring OF which Jack was the
gem, threw themselves on the ground
and listened 10 her chat her songs, her
stories. their fire lighted faces standing
out OF the gloom In grim contrast with
her refined beauty. The captain. with his
superior breeding. served as a link be-
tween her and his men. keeping them In
check and stimulating their admiration
by his own. IL Jack tagged for a mo-
ment between her stories and her songs,
Helen was quick to suggest new ones.
and occasionally both were relieved by
little Buck. who would throw In some
quaint remark typical OF that peculiar
creature. the American boy.
So long as the songs and stories last
ed there was nothing TO precipitate
trouble, but the entertainment could not
go on all night. and / began TO dread
the moment when the girls should at
tempt to take their departure Presently
Helen In firm voice said
Come. it's time for us TO CO.
Shouts OF NOT "A dancel' "A song!"
greeted the proposition. and the guerillas
began 10 form In groups TO resist an exit.
Helen, selecting the nosiest knot of men,
drew fevolver from her pocket and.
cooked It, moved toward them with her
eyes fixed upon them. calm and steady
Whether II was that they were cowed by
the weapon or admired this evidence OF
womans pluck, they opened a way. The
captain, seizing the opportunity, quickly
took Jack by the hand and led her after
her cousin. Once beyond the ring. he as
sisted the girls TO mount. then. mounting
himself. the three rode away. followed by
a cheer. AS for me. I breathed one long
sigh OF relief.
"Well. Ginger" said Buck. reckon ef
we uns air goin to sit to Sparty tomorrer
Wen have TO travel all night"
rs the nigger takin yo' to Sparty or air
yo takin the nigger?" asked one OF the
men.
Dat Amt gwine to max no differ"
said Ginger. Mars Buck an dom never
had no trouble. Mars Buck. he's my
mars till gifts 90 de new one"
Buck led his horse 10 the log and
mounted. giving me a significant look, as
much as to say, IT won't desert you,"
then rode away. followed by Ginger. with
the remark:
"Goodby. yo' feilers. Much 'bliged fo'
the good time"
The restraint OF the girls presence be-
ing no longer felt. the mems behavior
changed in a twinkling. The captains alb
sence left Pete Halliday. the worst man
In the gang. free TO foment trouble. and
he began to do so by sneering at his
chief for being brought, as he expressed
IL, under petticoat government There ap-
peared to be two factions In the band
the one headed by Halliday or Jaycox
and the other by Captain Ringold. Halli-
day set about instigating the guerrillas.
or. rather his adherents. to go after
Helen and Jack and bring them back for
another dance. To make matters worse,
one of the men found some applejack.
and IL was not long before the gang were
half drunk. Meanwhile the captain re-
turned and received hearty cursihg from
Halliday and his adherents. Several of
them started to bring back the girls. but
Ringold drew upon them and threatened
TO shoot them unless they returned. They
staggered back. grumbling. and the cap
tain adroitly proposed another pull at the
applejack. This diverted them, and after
finishing the liquor one after another
sank into a drunken slumber.
1t was midnight. Every member OF the
band was aselep save the man who was
deputed TO guard me. He was sitting on a
piece of firewood, 80 placed that he could
watch me across the flame. i lay on my
back looking up at the stars and feather
like clouds that now and again fioated
across the great blue dome, the only mo-
tion apparent save the tree tops bending
under an occasional breeze. The fire flick
cred. the guard nodded. and an owl In the
distance gave an occasional hoot.
/ heard something stir I'm the under
brush. Glancing aside, / saw a small light
disk over a bush. 1t was the face OF lit
tie Buck.
Now. in the name OF all the gods, will
those devoted friends never give over
risking their lives In these useless at
tempts? What is to happen now? scowl-
ed an order to the boy TO go away but be.
paid no attention to IL. Something came
sliding along the ground and lodged
against me. The guard heard IL. started,
cast a quick glance at me. then about
him, but. seeing nothing, relapsed into
his former quietude. / felt for what had
struck me and clasped jackknfe.
Meanwhile Buck disappeared. but, soon
appearing again In his place, held up a
carbine He had doubtless stolen IL from
one of the men who slept on the edge
of the circle about the fire. Again he dis
appeared. and / watched eagerly for his
return. The guard was still awake. though
nodding but had he been more watchful
he would not likely have discovered
Buck for the underbrush. both where the
boy appeared to me and where 1t skirted
the sleeping euerrillas, was 80 thick that
in passing around the camp he was COM
parativey safe from observation. Be-
sides for most of the distance Buck tra-
versed in his gun foray the guards back
was toward him. =,
l watch the point where Bucks head
appeared. expecting to see IL again, but
I'm it's stead presently see two white