Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-05-16
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
Mr.. Delnfeld's great object now was
to reach Charleston before the boat in
which Rosa was to sail should leave the
landing. Suddenly he remembered that
the express train left Augusta about four
o'clock y. m. 1t was now ten, and he
could easily reach It in time for the cars,
provided there had been no change In
the time table. To ascertain this. there
fore. he hastened to the depot. where.
to his dismay, he learned that the train
left Augusta at two.
But with him to will was to do. Fly.
ing rather than walking back to his
house. he called out Bill. his coachman,
startling him with the inquiry ms to
whether II would be possible. with his
best hOrses--n span of beautiful dappied
grays. which were valued at thousand
dollars--to drive to Augusta In less than
four hours.
Besides being naturally lazy and TN.
willing for exertion Of any kind, Bill was
also remarkably tender of said grays,
who were his pride. and whom he had
named Fred and Ferd. On hearing his
masters inquiry. therefore. he looked
perfectly aghast, and diving both hands
into his mated wool. by way Of illustra.
ton undoubtedly, replied. mighty tough
scratchin'. I can tell you mars'r. Them
ponies hnin't been driv. only what I've
cx'ciscd 'em for health. for better'n a
month. and to run 'em rs I'D hev to run
'em, would kill 'em, stone dead. No,
mars'r. can't think ont for minit:" and
o. X this were conclusive, and his word
the law, Bill stuffed his hands into his
bagging trousers. and was walking quiet.
Is away. when Mr.. .Delafeld stopped
him. saying. II shall try It at all events.
50 get out the carriage Immediately, and
mind you are not over Ave minutes do.
Ing II. Ask some one to help you II nee.
essary. Ho. Jackv' he called to rag.
ged mulntto boy who was doing nothing.
aud bnde him assist Bill In Harvesting
the horses.
Rolling his white eyes In utter aston.
ishment at what seemed to him the folly
Of his master. Bill began to expostula:s.
"Mars'r. you kill"
"Silence. and do az bid you!" said
Mr.. Delafield In tone which Bill
thought best to obey, and sauntering Of
to the stables, he brought out the ponies,
who pranced and paved the ground,
while he admired their flowing names
and smooth. shining coats.
Mr.. Dclafeld hastily packed q few
articles In his portmanteau. wrote a line
to his sister. and came out to superin.
tend In person the movements Of his ser.
want, whose peculiarities he perfe .tly
understood. He ordered him to start up,
and entered the carriage, while Bill
mounted the box. where he spent quite
awhile In comfortably disposing Of his
long. lank limbs and In adjusting his
palm.leaf hat.
go ON. you rascal" shouted Mr.. Della.
field. beginning to lose his temper: and
gathering up the reins. Bill whistlej to
the spirited animals. who dashed off at
far greater speed than their driver
thought was at all conducive to their
well-being.
Hold ON dar. Fcrd! Stop dat foolin',
will you. Fred! Easy dar, both on you,
for you come mighty nigh histin' me of
de box"
This last was said quite loud for the
benefit Of Mr.. Delafeld. who. perceiv.ng
that their speed had slackened. for they
were well trained and readily Obeyed
Bill's voice. called out, "privc faster. I
tell you. Give them the ribbons. and
let them rum"
The horses started forward rs II q
volley Of artillery Ind been fired at their
wheels Mr.. Delafs,ld heard the distress
ed Bill saying, "Whoa. dar, Ferdinand;
can't you whoa when tell you? Come,
Frederic. you set him Example. That's
a good boy; no 'casion for all dis hurryj
II we misses one train we catches an.
other. All do same thing. We nin't
chasin' runaway gal. ms l knows Of"
After little he succeeded In stopping
them, and for the next ten or fifteen min.
utcs they proceeded on rather leisurely,
and Bin was beginning TO think his mas.
ter had come to his senses. when he was
startled with the stern command, "I.et
them run now a. fast as they will. Don't
check them at all until We reach the
depot"
Accordingly. for mile or 30 the horses
rushed ON at headlong speed. Bill sym.
pathixing with them deeply. and mental.
" promising himself ITO tend 'em mighty
keerful to pay for this"
At last, when he thought II safe to do
90, he held them In, taking the prccau.
ton. however, to say aloud. "Get along
dar. Ferd--nOne your lazy tricks here
when mars'r's In sich hurry. Can't
you get along dar. I sayi An you Fred,
wake up yer bones to do merits Of d.
case"
But II In this way he thought to do
ceive the rcsOlute man inside he was
mistaken. Perceiving that their speed
was considerably 'slackened, and hearing
Bill loudly reprOach the horses for their
laxiness, Mr.. Dela6eld softly opened the
carriage door. and leaning out, learned
the cause Of the delay. Bolt upright up
on the box. with his brawny feet firmly
braced against the dashboard so rs to
give him more power. sat Bill, clutching
the reins with might and main. for the
horses mcttle was up. and It required his
entire strength to keep them from run
ming furiously. All this time, too, the
cunning negro kept Gliding them for
their Incidence In moving so slowly.
"Bill," said Mr.. Deladeld, sternly,
stop the carriage instantly. I under
stand your tricks. and for the rest Of
the way ! shall drive myself"
Rolling his eyes wildly In their sockets,
the crcstfallen Bill folded his arms and
resigned the horses to their fate, say.
Ing mentally. II shall wear mournin'
for 'em, I shall, and he may help his
self"
Over rough and stony places, over
smooth and sandy roads, over hills, over
plains, through the woods, through the
swamps, and through the winding val.
leys, on they sped like lightning, the
excited horses covered with foam. their
driver silent and determined, while poor