The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-31
THE WASTGR OF APPLGBY: KY FR1NGIs LYNpE

a great loose wall Of stones around and
over the cargo: and the firing Of the pow
der. heaped as 1t was against the backing
cliff OF the bowlder. would hurl these
weighing stones In a murderous broadside
upon the camp across the stream.
But since my dear lady would also share
the hazard of such a broadside. I had no
leave to blow myself and tbs powder con-
Voy TO Kingdom come, as I twisted to-
could not. you will say. having neither pistol
to snap nor flint and steel to fire a train.
Nay. nay. my dears, I would not have you
think so lightly OF my invention. Had this
been the only obstacle. yeu may be sure ]
:. should have found a way to grind q firing
spark out Of two bits Of stone.
But being otherwise enjoined. as I say, ]
turned my back upon the temptation and
held to the business in hand. which was to
reach and recross the stream higher up and
so come among the horses.
AS I had hoped to find them, the saddles
were hung upon the branches of the near.
est trees. Margery's horsefurnishings among
them. At first the black mare was shy Of
me. but a gentling word or two won her
over. and she let me take her by the fore
lock and lead her deeper into the herd,
where / could saddle and bride her in
greater safety.
My plan to cut her out was simple enough.
Trusting to the darkness-the horse meadow
was far enough from the fires to make q
murky twilight Of the rudy glow-1
thought to lead the mare quietly away up
the stream and thus on to the foot Of that
raVine by which we hoped to CLIMB to the
old borderer's rendezvous on the plateau.
But when all was ready and I sought to
set this plan in action. an Unforeseen
obstacle barred the way. To keep the
horses from strayins up the valley ar
Indian sentry line was strung above the
grazing meadow, and Into this I ~blundersd
Hka Onv rnlfrkAA kn0uA ~ n 0A- ~Aa-,lA
Had I been armed. the warrior who rose
before me phantom-like in the laurel edg1nR
Of the meadow would have had q most
sharp-pointed answer to his challenge. Al
II wasEI had left my sword with Jenn.fer
because the captured trooper whose UNDER
study I was had left his sword in camp
I tried to parley with the sentry. He knew
no word Of English. nor I Of Cherokee: but
that deadlock was speedily broken. A gut
tural call summoned others Of the horse
keepers, and among them one who spoke
q little English.
ugh! What for take white squaw
horseT" he demanded.
"'T1s the Captains order" I replied. b.
ing boldly to At the crisis
At that they rave me room; and had I
fastened I had doubtless gone 1t large
without more ado. But At this very apex
point Of hazard 3 must needs play out the
part Of unalarm to the fools envod. taking
umo 10 part the mares foselock under the
headstall. n looking leisursly to The lac.
ings Of the saddle-girth.
This foolhardy delay cost me al and
moro than all. I was still fddls-faddling
with the girth strap. the better to impose
upon my Indian h~orse-guards, when sud-
denly there arose q hubbub OF laughter IN
the camp behind. I turned to look and
beheld . thing laughable enough. no doubt,
end yet 1t broke no bubble Of mirth IN me
Hallway from the nearest forest f1ngO
to the great fire a man, white Of skin. and
clothed only in a pair Of trooper boots. was
running swiftly for cover to the nearest
pine-bough shelter, shouting like an ss-
capped Bedlamite as he fed. It asked for
second glance. this appaTition Of the yell
ing madman: twas our captive soldier,
foot-looss and racing In to raise the hue
and CRY.
Now you may always count upou this
falling IN q cautious man. that at Q crisis
he is like to do tho unwisest him that
offers. This cutting out OF Margery'e mare
was none % vital q matter that I
should have risked the marring Of Ephraim
Yates's plan upon It. Yet having done this
very thing. l must needs make q bad mat.
ter infinitely worse.
Instead Of mounting to ride a charge
through the camp. and so to draw the pur.
suit after me toward the cavern entrance.
as l should. / slapped the mare to send
her bounding through the guard line.
snatched a saddle from its oak-branch neg
70 hnrl II IN the faces Of the ssptxy RaSn.