The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-08
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CHAPTER XXIV-CONTIN
VICTORY.

A RMsTRONG well ahead of the troopers
~ who followed him, and he gained ground at
~ every stride The pursuers continually
N augmented from each lane and alley, and came
laundering after the flying like charge
of cavalry A in the road brought the (
bridge in sight, Armstrong it guarded only
at the end him. and that merely two lone pike
He would them down like grass he said to
himself,
STAND aside" he yelled .The Scot is loose and we're
after him. The jumped aside glad they not
called to arrest such they behed COM
ing down upon them. apparently of their
officers who commanded them there neither
time to think question. AS the horses hoofs struck
the bridge, the deep
castle, and before fugitive CENTER
at the other end of the bridge he could not
from whence they horse, if the thun
gun company magically
the earth Big Bruce stopped the of the bridge
his head gave a defiance the blockade
ahead of him. Armstrong glanced back the bridge had
closed on him like trap both ends stopped by forces
impossible for against.
'That shot did it. Well planned" he growled
himself his horse drawn across the bridge alert
for the word Of command what it might be. Below,
the swollen Eden Tipping full from bank to bank rolled
end of the bridge stood steel-clad mpreg
nable the walls of the castle ITSELF Courcy
his horse to the bridge and advanced with valor
which Armstrong sitting there, APPARENTLY calm had not
given him credit for.
Hes my mani" he cried "shoot him dead if he
raises his hand Then the Scot: Surrender quietly.
You have no chance. A of muskets turned
they shoot some of them will wing you Better
warn them not to fire.. returned Armstrong mildly. as
himself.
"Do you surrender"
Come and take if anxious for the thou
pounds worth money"
The Frenchman hesitated, edgng cautiously along
parapet so friends shot would be as
much possible aside fire. Seemingly
his confidence in their craftsmanship had not been aug
mented by Armstrong; warning.
IF raise hand weapon" said De Courcy.
"they will fire you, stop them They
not wait for word
1T know. I shall not raise my hand"
The Frenchman dashed forward and seized the bride
Of Black Bruce.
"Come quietly" he shouted
IT WILL, said Armstrong. He leaned forward. said
rising blow with open nan
horse raised Lis powerful front and stood poised for
statue, launched himself space.
AS Courcy felt his go
the rein and fell sprawlng the but Armstrong
leaned and gasped him by the loose folds of his
doubet
Come with me, you cried. There
terror, instant reared
in his When he to the surface he shook his
head like spaniel swept the water from his and
looked aoft at the great bridge The parpet lined
with troopers all stricken motioness if they had
been transformed De courcy,
afoat shrieked for help then sank again Armstrong
knew that the paralysis the bridge would not last long,
and he turned his horse toward the bank of clay
mo one in command up there apparently. he NUT
tered. We must make the most of it, old man."
The painting horse, breathing aboriousy, the
bank and slipped back Armstrong let loose his sodden
cloak and flung it the flood turning the horse that he
might take the ascent at angle The crowd still stared
at his as if it were show they had come out to
Bruce, his feet firm ground, shook his
and forth wild whinny of delight. Now the
of command in a blast of from the bridge.
after him, fools! What staring at?"
'"Too late I think ventured William, he
his horse the ditch divided the fields
road Once the followers him. and he
in his saddle threatening them with his pistols,
forgetting that his powder soaked,
fell back.
troopers found difficulty in believing that
who jumped his horse Carlisle bridge into the
directly aided by the devil had been
{ mored and they made no doubt the powder would
dry, such pt-scorched favorte he. They felt
could put the pistols to deadly in of
the moment Bruce struck his hoofs the road
the horses behind had chance Of overtakng him.
They fell further and further to the and at last
the sivery Esk cleaned ahead, While all along, since
pursuit hopeless William had feasting his
the blue hills of Scotland He walked his horse thru
the Es but it, too had been swollen by the rains
Bruce again had to for it before he reached the
other side William to the ground flung his
round the neck Of his sterling companion laying his
cheek against that of the
you've won the my boy All the credit
will sin of