The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

Dick saw the meaning in my look. and
together we pOunced to drag the old man
out OF hiding When We burst down
upon him. Yeates had his piece 10 his
face and was drawing a bead on a stout
man in cooked hat and plain regimentalS
whose horse was curveting and siding
in the nearer shadows; no less a figure
in truth, than my Lord CORVALLIS him.
self, cheering his men on TO the attack
We had scarce made out the old hun
ters target when the rifle spat fire. the
curVeting charger reared in its death
plunge. and the British commander-in-
chief, unhurt- as it seemed. was dragged
from the ENHANCEMENT OF his stirrups
by his aids.
The old marksman sprang up in a
fury Of wrath. Dad blast ye for pair
Of aim-sp lin"
A roar of musketry cut the rebuke in
half, and storm Of bullets smote
through the branches overhead A fall
ing bough knocked my hat on; and 1
Dick was clipping the old man tightly in
his arms. Yeates' belt was cut, and
little oozing well-spring Of red was
SLOWLY soaking the fringe Of his hunt
ing-shirt.
Ease me down. Cap'n Dick: ease me
down The old mans done for. this
time. ez ! allow-spang. in the innards.
Ease me down and get OF for yerselves,
If so be ye can, im-me-jit-"
The wagging Jaw dropped and the
keen old eyes went dim and stghtlesS.
Dicks oath was more a sob than an i'm
~ l.
Come on-the living before the dead"
and so we made the Well-nigh hopeless
dash for the horses.
How we rode free out Of that hurly-
burly at the ford head you must figure
for yourselves. If you can. The men OF
the British vanguard were all about US
when We got to the scrub oak thicket
and mounted. but no one Of them raised
a hand to stay US 1 have thought since
that mayhap they took US for pair OF
their own Tory allies who were not
. dead Be that as it may. we rode away
unhindered, Dick in all the bravery Of
his captains slaShngs. and in light
horse buff and blue, taking the road
was the only one beyond the sight and
sound of the victors at the ford.
But once at large. We put spurs 70 our
horses in true ritter fashion,; and we had
gallOped half way to Appleby House be-
fore Dick said:
Now we are well out Of that what
next? We can not go to Margery with
the whole British army at our heels"
Nay. but we shall. If only for a short
half hour" 1 asserted Then. as once
before. 1 gave him my best bow. For
the last time, it may be, let me play the
lord of the manor. You are very well
come TO my fathers demesne, Richard,
and to all Of its holdings"
ALP said he. giving me a quick eye
shot as We pressed on side by side
Yes. ALL" said L; and 1 meant II in
good faith. He should have the lady
manse without whom my fathers acres
would be a bauble TO be lost or won in
differently
Then you do not love Madge more?'
he queried, his eye kindling.
Nay, / did not say that. But I did
say the other: that you should have the
house and all its holdings"
We were cantering up the oak-sen-
tried avenue TO that door which Gilbert
Stair had once sought TO keep against US
with his bell-mouthed blunderbuss.
There was no sign of any living thing
about the place; and when we had no
answer to our sword-hilt knockings on
the door. the lad turned upon me with
flash Of anger in his eyes and his lip a
curl
you knew full well what you were
promising. John Ireton." he said. She
is not here"