The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-08-14
Geottrey Heathcote. Esq"
= 'o"' NNlnok Copyright 1899, by s. s. Mcclure Coz

When we reached the top Of the long
rise and came into the moonshine
again, l found to my JOY that the road
was clean unaerfoot, and touched
Whttesock with my heel. She brok.
into her long, easy trot, the little pony
at ner side stretching away at the gal
Top, and we went perhaps three miles
before we We're checked again.
a niue more picking of the way, and
OF turning a corner, behold a light
SHINING, as from a easement, half a
mile ahead. 1t was the inn. and. az
we rode up, I glanced eagerly through
the uncurtained window. In front Of
a huge peat fire stood the dwarf, look
ing around with a spiteful smile upon
three or four frightened looking
try fellows, who were seated upon q
long settle.
AS ! gazed, one of them rose and
went toward the door. The dwarf
made a gesture, as II ordering him
back, and he man returned and sat
down without dispute. There Was no
sign OF the forms for which I looked,
they might easily be elsewhere.
nor could l see any trace Of the pike
men. My companion sprang from his
pony and ran eagerly into the house.
upon the other side of the yard was an
open door, and, inside, a lantern dim
ly burning.
Without dismounting I turned
Wh1tesock toward 1t AMI thrust in my
head. 1t was the stable, empty but
Tor two ponies, and those, as / say at
a glance, larger thar the animals for
which I was searching.
l drew the right hand hand rein and
rode softly back to the highway. !
felt perfectly certain that the pikemen
were somewhere in front Of me with
their prey, and. after going gently for
a hundre yards over a soft, muddy
piece. I gave Whitesock her head.
For a single fields length from the
mn the lane was enclosed, then the
road was as usual. over open noun
tain, and here he smooth, springy
turf ran to the edge of the way. Turn
Ing Whitesock to the turf, a.Say she
went at a gallop, her head down, her
big, keen, bright eyes watching every
yard Of the path.
The moo was now well Up and
poured her rays almost like day
through the thin. clear, frosty air.
sat bolt upright in the saddle, left
searching out the roa to the raare,a and
kept a lookout in front and on either
hand.
I had zone thus for perhaps a mile,
when I fancied that I heard a faint
sound, as of a ciinking hoof. I pulled
again, and clearer still, now that the
soft thud of Whitesock's feet upon the
turf no longer filled my ear But II
came from a point to the left of the
road-from a direction where a sharp
~ rising hill thrust itself so far into
the sky that the moon had only just
cleared 1t. the rim Of the yellow disc
resting on the crown Of the ascent
Click, click, click! Certainly the
rattle Of ponies feet over a stony
/, patch, and now there rose straight UP
against the moon a bunch Of figures
They were In view a mere instant, just
as they crossed the ridge. 1t seemed
as If the hill thrust them in again. ]
never doubted for an instant who they
rise, which she climbed with easy
stride.
AS we neared the top Of the hill ]
sprang down and led her a little to one
side Of the stony patch which l saw
shining white before us. The other
side OF the hill lay in full moonlight
and, peering over the crest l found
myself gazing down a long. gentls
slope, the dark patch Of moving figures
some distance away. I climbed into
the sadie again and went down upon
them al a swift canter. AS I drew
near l saw two ponies, each with a fa-
male figure seated upo It, one ragged
pikeman walking between them hold
Ing a rein OF each pony. the other two
marching on either side.
With the advantage of my horse anc
weapons, 1 had but little ~uneasiness
as to driving the rascals of. but, as II
happened, the task turned out very
simple. For they were singing, OF
rather chanting, a mournful. wailina
air as they marched, and I closed upor
them unnoticed. Whitesock moved as
lightly as a hare over the SOFT spr1ng5
turf. The man IN the right hand ear
rfed n pike on either shoulder, as his
fellow between the ponies had bott
hands occupied. I therefore marked
the left hand pikeman, and drove the
mare down on him at a swinging gal
lop.
before they turned their heads. Ihey
raised a cry Of triumph, thinking
doubtless, that I was the tall man
their leader. The cry was hardly Out
If their throats when Whitesock
struck the pikeman like a hunde
holt and hurled him a dozen yaros
her knees, as she rose to the gailop
nicktng him clean off his feet. Al 9
touch Of the rein she wheeled rounu
hut in that mere instant much mac
The fellow in the middle had dropped
the reins and leaped for his pike.
The captives had risen instantly &c
tha situation and made a dash FOL
freedom, and I turned to confront two
sturdy fellows, their pixies ready fol
action, and to see the ponies securing
away to the right to regain the road:
As had no fancy for pinking White
socks satin coat upon those keenly
whetted points, I rode round them ano
followed the retreating couple:
lacked over my shoulder to n the
anearmen bounding after me like grey
bpp11nds. and the third man slowly, get:
ting to his feet. I drew a pistol ane
fred it over their heads. They tool
the hint and drew OFF at once. In three
Minutes I was up with the dying hg'
ures. ,n,n,,1. +or
hord )" + cried. you are safe now,
think. Those fellows are not 1ol1oW1ne
u.s." 49, ra,,o,
of the painting little creatures under
them. and we went at an easy pace W
the last stretch Of the long slope.
you have come to our rescue once
mora and we thank you again am
naainn said the nearer rider. I'VE
aea fatad to get into difficulties or