The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-07-24
P I.
HOW JARED ON THE ROAD.

Sh S"S -sNh Va
out of Knighton, on the borders O
Salop and Radnor, towards Rhayader
on the further side OF RadnorShtre
was not greatly apprehcnsive OF pur-
suit, for. on leaving Butley Croft III
Worcester, / had ridden nGrtheast
nearly as far as shrewsbury, then hao
turned n u back almost parallel
on my track, making the last part OF
my journey chiefly by night. n fol-
lowing unfrequented roads.
was now making directly across the
borders n heading for h heart OF
Wales, where / had an expectation OF
finding q sure refuge. Soon after en-
tering upon a road which l was told
would lea me direct to the town OF
Rhayader, 1t became very rough and
uneven, rising and falling over small
er hills, while far before me. low and
purple. rose loftier mountains. 1 trav-
eled at a moderate pace, for l was de-
sirous Of sparing my good mare White
sock, she being unaccustoned TO such
roads underfoot, and her comfort as
dear to me as my own.
Near midday, for the sun was hard
ly at the zenith, / came to a small inn,
where several roads met. Here 1 rest
ed a couple of hours, baited my mare,
and refreshed myself, though with nc
great relish, for the bread was dirty
and showed signs that the mice had
had the run of the flour sack, and the
rest of the ~provender was to match.
In the afternoon I entered on a
stretch of rolling country, mostly heath
n furZe, the Dad a mere track, split
ting into a dozen where there was a
q patch to cross, and every traveller
had followed his WI judgment.
Up to this point the way had been
quite solitary, u on breasting a gentle
rise I saw. some half-mile in front, and
aGHa9HSrr Sha ,o~t 49,
cade-tWo women riding on ponies, a
led pony and a man on fool. They
were going at a walk, and I refined in
to q walk also. Perhaps these people
would turn aside soon and leave me
the road to myself. But just as they
reached the crest Of the hill something
frightened the led pony. Making a
bound like a cat, the active little crea-
ture tore the halter from the hand of
the man who was leading it, turned and
came down the hill like a greyhound,
n heavy saddlebags with which it
was loaded humping and Tapping
against its sides, and increasing at once
Its terror and it's speed.
The two women wheeled their ponies
ana gave instant chase. But the fugi-
1--WE lad less to carry and a good start,
and showed them a clean pair of heels.
! resolved to stop it as it came up the
NIL. where the ascent would blow it.
but in the bottom it turned to the open
heath and fed whinnying with delight
over the turf
Touching Whitesock with my heel, I
RODE at an angle with its course, and
was soon up with it. But it was no
easy thing to catch. It lodged, twist
ed, oub like a hare, showed as
many tricks as a fox, and fnally, see
Ing there was no escape, trotted back
70 the nearer rider as If it had been
a tame lamb.
knew h nature of the little beast
Weu. It was not the first time by many
that l had seen the wonderful cunning
n c~leverness Of a Welsh mountain
Tor every spring the dealers come
with droves of them to our market
town The nearer horsewoman now
gave me a Volley Of words which
proved pure Hebrew to me, showing
At the same time her white teeth in a
broad smile which shone all over her
freckled face.
1t was clearly the Welsh tongue
winch she was speaking, and as 1 had
no Welsh to answer her, I could hut
o and smile back. When she saw
tnat a not her language, she said.
wen, thank you, indeed but SO odd
" ano stift1y was IT. spoken that I had
words. I made her a proper reply, Their
caneered back to the highway.
Inc second rider had taken a soma-
what olIierent direction, and I did not
approach her. AS I regained the road.
the man hastened up-a queer. tall old
1eiio", c!ad In Well-worn greasy home
spun and carrying a long carbina over
his shoulder. The sight OF this weanon
prought to mind what l had hear
o the disturbed condition of this
T OF the country, and, as T rode
slowly up the hill, I drew the charges
IRON my pistols. and reloaded them
for some two or three miles the way
t Sn sohtary; then, at a turn of
the read, where it wound among thick
cts OF hazel and bramble and hollv T
was accosted by a young womsn
slandlng In the middle of the track
"nltesock was walking, for the poine
was very bad, and as I came sIovvlI,
through the slough to the dry SPOT
mee ny young woman stood, the lat
yer ro!led her big black eyes at me-
rosu1shly n smiled and kissed has
hand. Asseo her
Sne was a strapping lass of 90. NAV
ue, N q or1ght red petticoat and bodice
Ihe latter leaving her bosom half hare
by ner appearance I judged her to he
Noble captain" said she. with a ~.
ressing smile, IT am a country n,eid
hVlng about five miles beyond here. I
nave walked a long way and ON
weary. Won't you-Oh, won't You tab
me up behind you and carry me a little
distance on my road?"
l eyed her warily, to be sure that she
was a woman. for queer things often
De1al! lonely travellers in these ,,nset.
tied days. But a woman she was and
one also who thought that her smile
ana bright y had pleaded her cause
Wen With me. She took nv silence for
consent and advanced to lay her hand
on the pommel. Whitesock received a
mint. given SO that no one might Oh
serve it. but which she we'll under-
STOOD, and she sprang half-a-dozen
rect Sideways from the scarlet figure.
Have a care, my girl" SAL I, how
you approach my mare. I should not
wlsh to see you suffer, either by her
teeth or heels" N'
She is n Of that sort, is she?'' sail
the egyptian. We'll. noble captain,
stay with me and We'll walk gently to-
sether. n beguile our way with pleas
ant speech"
we had now gained the hard road
ana l gave another secret sign to my
| GOOD mare. who broke ar opn, $50.