The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-07-24
CHAPTER |.
HOW FEARED ON THE ROAD

Salop and Radnor, towards Rhayader
on the further side Of Radnorshire.
was not greatly apprehensive of pur-
suit, for, on leaving Butley Croft ir
Worcester, l had ridden northeast
nearly as far as Shrewsbury, then haG
turned and run back almost parallel
on my track, making the last part OF
my journey chiefly by night, and fol-
lowing unfrequented roads
was now making directly across the
borders and heading for the heart OF
Wales, where l had an expectation OF
finding sure refuge. Soon after en-
tering upon a road which l was told
would lead 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. l trav-
eled at moderate pace, for | was de-
sirous of sparing my good mare White
sock, she being unaccustOmed to such
roads underfoot, and her comfort as
dear to me as my own.
Neart midday, for the sun was hard
I ly at the zenith, l came to a small inn,
where several roads met. Here I rest
ed a couple of hours, baited my mare,
and refreshed myself, though with no
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 l entered on a
stretch of rolling country, mostly heath
and furze, the road mere track, split
ting into q dozen where there was a
bad patch to cross, and every traveller
had followed his own judgment.
Up to this point the way had been
quite solitary, but on breasting gentle
rise saw, some half-mile in front, and
ascending the next slope, tiny caval-
cade--two women riding on ponies, a
led pony and a man on foot. They
were going at walk, and 1 refined in
to 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 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 greyhound,
the heavy saddlebags with which it
was loaded humping and Tapping
against it's sides, and increasing at once
its terror and its speed
The two women wheeled their ponies
ana gave instant chase. But the fugi-
tive had less to carry and good start,
ana showed them clean pair Of heels.
l resolved to stop it as it came I'D the
hill, where the ascent would blow it.,
but In the bottom it turned to the open
heath and fled whinnying with delight
over the turf.
Touching Whitesock with my heel, I
rode at an angle with it's course, and
was soon up with it. But it was no
easy thing to CATCH It lodged, twist
ed, doubled like a hare, showed as
many tricks as fox, and finally, see
ang there was no escape, trotted back
a ! L. L
tame lamb.
knew the nature of the little beast
well. 1t was not the first time by many
That L had seen the wonderful cunning
and cleVerness of a Welsh mountain
pony, for every spring the dealers come
with droves of them to our market
town. The nearer horsewoman now
gave me 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
which she was speaking, and as 1 had
no Welsh to answer her, I could hut
nod and smile back When she saw
that 1 had not her language, she said,
wei. thank you, indeed" but so odd
~ ana stiffiy was it spoken that I had
much pains to recognize the familiar
Moius. l mace her proper reply, then
cantered back to the highway
The second rider had taken a some
what different direction, and did not
approach her. AS I regained t,,e road
the man hastened up--a queer, tall old
fellow, clad In well-worn greasy home
spun and carrying long carbine over
his shoulder. The sight of this weapon
brought to mind what 1 had heard
ABOUT the disturbed condition of this
part OF the country, and, as I rode
s.oWly up the hill, l drew the charges
rom i9, my pistols, and reloaded them.
For some two or three miles the way
remained solitary; then, at turn or
tne ROAD, where it wound among thick
cts OF hazel and bramble and holly +
was accosted by a young woman
standing in the middle of the tracL
Whltesock was walking, for the eoinp.
was was very bad, and as I came SLOWLY
through the slough to the dry spot
s s1l the young woman stood, the lat
IL 81 io,teu her big black eyes at me
hand 'Nts'eeu iier
sne was strapping lass of 20, NAV
pc, IN bright red petticoat and bodice.
the latter leaving her bosom half bare
ny ner appearance judged her to he
an Egyptian. - oe
Noble captain" said she, with a On
resslng smile, T am a country maid
living about five miles beyond here. +
nave walked a long way and ~,
weary. Won't you-Oh, won't Won take
me up behind you and carry me 4. little
distance on my road?" Z,
eyed her Wari1y, to be sure that she
was g woman, for queer things often
pefal! lonely travellers in these unset
tied Gays But a woman she was. and
one also who thought that her smile
ana bright eye had pleaded her cause
We'll with me. She took my silence foT.
consent and advanced to lay her hand
on the pommel. Whitesock received a
mint, given SO that no one might nh
serve It, but which she we'll under
stood. and she sprang half-a-dozen
rect sideways from the scarlet figure, "A
nave q care, my GIRL. sal~ i, how
teeth or heels" s. B
She is one Of that sort, is she 2, said
+ t w egyptian ~ Well, noble captain,
stay with me and Wen walk gently to-
gether, and beguile our way with pleas
ant speech. ~. 3
rs We had now gained the hard road.
ana q gave another secret sign to nv
good mare, who broke at once into 4
hard gallop. / was anxious to he clear
Ct the thicket, for 4 knew very well
she was not alone, and that some plan
nae gone amiss was well assured by
the foul curses and outcries which the
pretended simple country lass no,,rea
after me. had gone q mile . sai,,
Mn WE, IL Z tnought flashed into my mind,