The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-05-31

Twas like pulling sound teeth to get him
away, but he yielded at length. and we
crept on to have some better sight Of the
troop camp. We had 1t: had also a
glimpse Of the Baronet-Captain iiaying loo
with his Lieutenant and another. The
tableau at the fire gave us better courage.
The men had laid their arms aside and were
SPRAYING at their ease; and while the arch
acoundrel was in the gaming mood Mar
gerry had less to fear from him.
/ said as much 10 Dick. and for answer he
pointed to the flask Of usquebaugh which
was at that moment making the round Of
the loo players.
II know Frank Falconnet better than you
DO. Jack, for / have known him later. He
Is all kinds Of a villain sober. but he is
a fend incarnate with the liquor in
him. IT'S lucky we are here. If he dc
but deep drink enough. Margery IS like to
have need"
"Hist!' said L: some of these l~ounging
rascals may not be SO drowsy as they look.
He nodded and we backed away to make
another circuit which fetched us out on the
up-valley side OF the encampment. Here We
could look down into a smaller glade or
bottom meadow on the stream where the
hcrses of the band were cropping the lush
grass. 1t was the sight of these, and Of
Margery's black mare among them, that set
me thinking Of a pickering venture to the
tol 10 AoACb AHc an tuAC ITOu WHICH i
had but now dissuaded Richard Jennifer.
shall need another mount, and Mis-
tress Margery's saddle" I said. lie you
close here whist I play the horse thief on
these reavers."
But my dear lad was rash only for him
self. Now who is daft?' he retorted. THE
Catawba himself could never run that rant
let and come through alive"
"Mayhap," I admitted. But yet"
He cut me Off In the midst, winding an
arm about my head by way Of an extin.
Euisher. One Of the redcoat troopers louur-
Ing before the great fre had risen and was
coming straight for our hiding place.
saw not what to do: should have done
nothing, I dare say. till the man had walked
fair upon US But Richard was quicker
witted.
Give me your sword" he muttered:
mine will Be too long to shorten upon"
and when the Englishman's NEXT stride
would have kicked, Us out Of hiding Dick
rose up before him like the devil In . play,
gripped him by the cellar and laid his
swords point at his throat.
Follow me. step for step. or you arr q
dead mani" he commanded: and 20, pacfnE
backward. he led the fellow, with the hulk.
Ing body Of him for . shield and mask, cut
Of the circle Of frelight and into thu ssfar
shadows Of the forest
When I had made . creeping detour -
JoL' MN no btli mao Ms man by the collar
and was emphasizing the need for silence by
sundry prickings with the Ferara.
Say. quicki what to do with him. Jackr.
he demanded. when I came up; and now my
wit came Into play.
"out Of this to some safer d~ressinr.rosm.
and I'll show ysu." said I; and forthwith
We marched our prise up the valley 9 lone
musket-shst or mora
When the soldier had leave to Ueak hs
begged right Justify for his life. q Won
would guess; but We gave him q Mort
shrift. If the plan I had in mind should
q fighting chance for success It must
be set in train before this trooper should
be missed.
30. having first gagged the poor devil with
his " neckerchief. we stripped him quick
~. and I a. quickly douned the borrowed
uniform n became, At least In outward
. ught-horse trooper of thar
King whose service I had sncs for
sworn. Tho items Of small clothes, waist
coat hsadgear lifted me passing veil.
but when It came to the boots we stuck
fast, n I was forced to wear my evn
f~oot-coverings-
The change made-and you may believe
no playhouse actor Of them all ever doffed
or donned a costume quicker-we bound our
luckless captive hand and foot, pinned him
face downward In the sward, and so LEAVING
him with only his boots for a mementoS
for him the night was no more
.han goose-nesh cool-ws raced back to our