The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-07-24
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
BY JOHN FlNNiMORE Copyright Coz

which is native to me, and which, often
and again, has stood me in great stead.
1t matters not where l go, if it be by
daylight and 1 can mark the lie Of the
land 1t sits in my mind as if pricked
out on chart I cannot claim any
merit In 1t, for 1t costs me no trouble.
1t is as natural to me as to breathe or
to sleep.
AS | ran over my course, l saw that
the road Topped round like bow, and
that l crossed the heath as if march
ing along the string. l should hit the
track little before the thicket where
the Egyptian waylaid me.
The heath was dotted with huge
clumps Of small trees and brushwooo
and took a glance from behind each
one which lay in my path to be sure
that the country was clear before me.
AS | drew nearer to the point X9Or
which l was making, came down from
the saddle and led Whitesock first
graSping her nostrilS with my hand,
holding them shut for an instant, and
then caressing her little. After this,
which she understands as we'll as If
she spoke the kings English and I
could converse with her, 1 f1new she
would not neigh or make the slightest
sound.
Creeping thus, / reached clump OF
brambles from which 1 judged the
track should be in sight. Nor was
wrong. Peering cautiously through a
thin place, my eye raked a stretch of
road, and there, credit me- was my
Egyptian, dancing a saraband on the
crown of the causeway, while three
swarthy ruffians lay on the bank
Two were lying idly, the third slappng
his leg and swapping his fingers in
time to the girls twinking feet and
flying petticoats.
A moving figure beyond caught my
eye, and l saw fourth man come
round the bend and run nimbly toward
them. My glance was off the group for
barely a second, but when I looked
again the girl was alone. The runner
came up, spoke few words to the
Egyptian, then vanished into the cover
and the scarlet figure flung itself on
the bank where her companions had
been lying.
Some three or four minutes
passed, then the bunch of ponies
and travellers came in sight.
AS they approached, the Egyptian
began to groan heartily, as one in sore
sickness or distress. I held my post
and watched, for did not wish to in
terfere unless absolute need should
arise. Meanwhile the riders came on,
and the Egyptian groaned.
When they were close upon her, the
figure upon the hank feigned to be con-
scious for the first time of their pres
ence. Half-raising herself, she held out
her arms with an 1mploring gesture,
then fell back. The ponies were stayed
opposite, and, at word from one of
the riders, the tall man with the car
bine gave up the rein Of the led pony
and went to the Egyptian.
AS he came up to her she crouched
lower on the ground. He spoke to her,
and bent over her With the speed of
thought she turned and flung a slip
moose over his head. The rope, in
stantly tautened by an accomplish on
the other side Of the thicket, ran tight
about his neck, and with strangling
cry ne pitched forward on his face.
| sprang to the saddle, and, sword in
hand, drove Whitesock forward at the
gallop, for the real cry of distress had
been signal for the four men to
spring from their ambush, and the lit
tie party was surrounded.
But as 1 rode forward, shouted with
delight to see what had happened.
The two women at bay turned on their
attackers with all the courage of Anna
IONS. One leaped from her pony and
flew to the fallen man, and I saw the
shine OF a knife in her hands. With
one deft blow she severed the choking
cord, and before the Egyptian could
turn to escape, with a single swift turn
of the wrist slashed the decoy clean
across her naked bosom.
The Egyptian fed. screaming, the
flowing Of blood darkening her scar
let bodice. The other rider sat her
pony steadily and discharged two pis-
tolls at the foe. These We're both fired
at the two men behind, who were the
nearer assailants.
The two in front amazed to find
Whitesock sweeping down on them like
a thunderpolt, nevertheless lodged
nimbly to the one side, and swung their
hangers in readiness. Both eyed me
as cool as possible, one on either hand
1 saw their intention at once. Which
leap in and endeavor to hamstring the
mare.
Now I had as lief they should ham
string me as Whitesock and so feint-
ed the left-hand rogue, who jumped
back, and then brought my sword
down like lightning on the right-hand
fellow as he sprang in. The blade took
him fairly across the skull, but his hat
was stiffened with some pieces of met
al, for felt the sword did not bite.
The force of the blow drove him head
long to the ground, and his hanger fell
harmless.
/ I drew rein, and Whitesock came to
a stand within a yard of the ponies. I
looked round, but our fight was fought
The footpads had not bargained for
this, and they FASTENED to beat a re-
trea. Three Of them vanished at
once; one carried q couple of slugs in
his shoulder from the second pistol, the
fourth, whom cut down, regaining
his senses after q few moments and
staggering into the bushes.
At a nearer view, saw the horse
women were both girls. That lis to
say, the one with the bloody knife in
her hand certainly was; and the other.
though she kept her face closely muf-
fled in the cape of her gray cloak, T
judged to much of the same age. They
We're clad in thick country homespun,
new and warm. and looked like farm
.er's daughters In their. holiday attire.
We are much indebted to you, sir,,'
said the one who had remand in the
saddle, In a low, clear, pleasant voice,
"and thank you heartily for your
help.
You are very welcome said I,
though indeed I think you are very
.caTSble of defending yourselves
We had shot out bolt, fear" she
returned; land Siani's knife would
have awaited but little against swords
For myself. I looked upon Siani with
interest. She brought to mind the
Welsh woman of whom had read In
the histories-the women whose long
knives were as dreadful as the swords
OF the warriors. She was a short, stout
girl, square1y planted on her feet her