The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-09-11
70 ride back to Nant-y-Bryn, the short
fepruary day was closing in,
CHAPTER X.

4,
we did not return by From, bat struck
straight across the Hills dnd ere long
me path ran into the mouth and along
the bottom OF q deep cwm. The sides
were steep and rocky to a degree bur
from side to side of the V-SNaped
chaSm stretched q strip of tarf, broad
enough for us to rias abreast. and
smooth as shaver lawn.
| surely we are safe from observation
IN inns shelter" said I, CHANGING right
| Una 'sft at the towering walls running
~ ana losing themselves in the ,nisS.
1T is like. riding through a. cavern"
we call it Cwm eve" remarked
IVAN that is, Marrow Valley, and
the. sides are impas sable for horses
every inch II the way"
AS he spoke a hollow bark rang
tnre"Sh the mist above our heads.
i An old dog-foX that" said I.
/ II was answered from the other side,
FOXES" said Owain, CHANGING un,
easily around him in the thickening
ousk; Il have never. Started foxes
about here. Let us. ride faster.''
Enid Vaughan touched her pony ant.
1t bounded forward at fuu sJ3ea,i and
we gallcped beside her The hollow
parkine rang out again, BY the sound,
! me loxes were still ahead Of us above:
s ..Il at this OWaLn cried in low voices
Ride your Fastest"
| iid> oo you fear?" 7 asked half
expecting his answer,
* GWylliaid CpcE5un," said he
Suddenly, a; thfck wreath of mist be-
lore us fold"d itself into a close cloud
ana rolles upon one side, like a cur
t;hh iTaaWn back. We glanced eagerly
i up A bunch of figures, faint against
/ sNe darkening sky, and far above us,
were running like deer along the upper
edge OF the cwm. We knew by the am
or th-SS
IONS on the other side, and we were
smut in by mile of rocky walls.
But surely we shah reach the mouth
nrst, l cried; they are on foot"
i hope so" returned Owain, but his
tone was doubtful
AND if not" I pursued, "they can
uut block the mouth. and we shall
ride them down.
I1ey Will give us no chance" said
O"a1n. AT thirty yards distance,
they will throw. their pixies so as to
strike their enemy wherever they
please"
'iSide on, Master Heathcota,' broke
IN End, eagerly. TT is we Who have
i orooS.irN you into this danger, and it
IS easy for YOU TO escape
H., You are right, sister," said OWain.
Come Master Heathcote, your mare
is but cantering, while we are doing
our utmost. Ride, on, we beg Of YOU"
Willingly" said l, IF you think r
can hold the mouth until you arrive"
Tis' impossible said Owain "You
eaaAot conceive of their cunning and
activity. If you Stood you would be
rlnged round and pierced on a dozen
| Sides"
Then ! will stay.'hysaid 1, and I
l"osened my sword and looked over
my pistols as I@rode, and Owain did
the same.
Enid" said he, quickly, as sudden
thought seemed to strike him. You
must mount and ride with me- Under
the double weight my horse would out
strip, vour ponys fastest, and so we
should gain something"
BY that reasoning" said T. "White-
sock ought to carry the double weight,
and we should gain again, and so es-
cape. Will you not both mount her and
let me ride the gray horse2" !.
DO you think she would permit p.
cried Owain. So
Il hope So was my answer ait is
worth the trial. ~. :
l sprang down and the exchange
made in a moment. Enid Vaughan
/ placed her foot in her brothers. hand
and swung herself lightly to- the front
! of the saddle. OWain boundeds:up be-
hind her. and I seized the name or the
/ gray horse. But even as r put my foot
into the stirrup I paused fearfulIy, as
time pressed US, and stood irresolute
The mare had permitted them to mount
like a lamb SO long as I stood at her
head, but now her legs were gathering
under her in a threatening fashion, her
shoulders were working, her red eye
was rolling IN my direction, and / kne"
that the sight of mo on the gray horse
would drive her into jealous fury
which no rider could quell Thor
oughly familiar with the ways Of
horses, there was need for the other
two to ask why l hung with foot in
the stirrup.
1T is of no use" cried Owain, leap
ing down. II could never hold her with
| Enid before me- Her body plays with
the strength of tempered steel. Up
with you, Master Heathcote, and give
| me my horse again."
| I sprang for my own saddle, threw
one arm round Enid Vaughan, touched
| Whitesock lightly with my heel-her
shining TANKS know nothing of the
spur-and she skinned down the VAL
ley at speed which left Owain far be-
| hind.
At first Enid Vaughan sat steadily
up, balancing herself lightly to the
mares stride, with one hand resting
upon my arm, but she had never be-
fore in her life been carried through
| the air at SO prodigious a pace, and
pACoeltiy Heiu her t1SnIer Tor l saw
| her head swim and her eyes half close
| refined Whitesock in little, partly to
give my companion an opportunity to
! throw off the giddiness with which the
swiftness Of the mare had oppressed
her, partly to give Owain a chance to
come level with us. did not turn my
head, but in an instant I heard his
powerful steed laundering up behind,
and his voice shouting:
DO not draw rein for me. Ride, ride,
| You at least can make yourselves safe,
The very wind could not catch YOU
/ laughed gayly, and held Whitssock
at an easy gallop for a moment until he
came alongside.
What an action!" he said, ut is the
keenest pleasure to see her four legs
move,
1 thought to myself that the move
ments of the Gwylliaid Cochion We're
more to us at the moment than White
socks beautiful running; but Owains
pride was such that, though he was
| straining every nerve to escape for the
sake of his sister, yet he disdained the
idea of allowing the fear of them to
| fill his whole mind and speech
His gray horse was galloping furious
ly, cutting out great sods from the soft
| turf and flinging them in shower be-
hind him, Willie OWain sat close down
l t1n coz II |, I.s