Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-09-05
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
by JOHN fiNNlmOkE. Copyright 1899, by 8. 8. Mcclure co.,

every inch Of the way"
AS he spoke a hollow bark rang
through the mist above u heads.
AN old dog-fox that" said 1.
1t was answered from the other side.
Foxes" said Owain. %glancing un-
easily around him in the thickening
dusk II have never started foxes
about here. Let us ride faster"
Enid Vaughan touched her pony and
1t bounded forward at full speed, and
we galloped beside her. The hollow
barking rang out again. BY the sound,
the foxes were still ahead Of us above;
and at this, Owain cried in a low voice.
Ride your fastest"
What do you fear?" 1 asked, half
expecting his answer.
"Y Gwylliaid C~ochion,' said he.
Suddenly, a thick wreath Of mist be-
fore us folded itself into a close cloud
and rolled upon one side, like a cur
tain drawn back. We glanced eagerly
up. A bunch OF figures, faint against
the darkening sky, and far above us,
We're running like deer along the upper
edge of the cwm. We knew by the an
swering notes hat they had compan-
ions on the other side, and we were
shut In by a mile of rocky walls.
But surely we shall reach the mouth
first" l cried; they are on foot"
Il hope So" returned Owain, but his
o was doubtful.
And IL not" L pursued. >"they can
but block the mouth, and we shall
ride them down."
They will give us no chance" said
Owain. Eat thirty yards distance,
they will throw their pixies so as to
strike their enemy wherever they
please"
Ride on. Master Heathcots," broke
In Enid, eagerly. ut is we who have
brought you into this danger, and 1t
Is easy for you to escape"
You are right, sister" said Owain.
Como Master Heathcote, your mare
Is but cantering. while we are doing
u utmost. Rid On, we beg Of you"
Willingly" said /, IF you think I
can hold the mouth until you arrive"
IT'S impossible" said Owain. You
cannot conceive of their cunning and
ringed round and pierced IN u dozen
sides"
Then I will stay" said I, and I
loosened my sword and looked over
my pistols as l rode, and Owain did
the same.
Enid said he, quickly, as a sudden
thought seemed TO strike him. You
must mount and ride with me. Under
the double weight my horse would out
strip your pony's fastest, and so we
should gain something"
by that reasoning" sale /, white
sock ought to carry the double weight,
and we should gain again, and so es-
cape. VIII you not both mount her and
let me ride the ray horse?"
d O think she would permit"
cried Owain.
Il hope So" was my answer. 1T is
worth the trial." ~
/ sprang down and the exchange was
made In a moment. Enid Vaughan
placed her foot in her brothers hand
and swung herself lightly to the front
Of the saddle. Owain bounded up be-
hind her, and I seized the name Of the
gray horse. But yer as l put my foot
into the stirrup l paused, fearfully, as
time pressed us, and stood irresolute.
The mare had permitted them to our
like a lamb so long as l 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 I Knew
that the sight of me on the gray horse
would drive her into a 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 a 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"
l 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 a 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
presently l held her tighter for I saw
her head swim and her eyes half close.
l refined Whitesock in a little, partly to
give my companion an opportunity to
throw off the g%iddiness 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 l heard his
powerful steed laundering up behind,
and his voice shouting:
d 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 Whitesock
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
novel,
1 thought to myself that the move
ments Of the Gwylliaid Cochion were
more to us at the moment than White
socks beautiful running; but Owain's
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 tc
fill his whole min and speech.
His gray horse was galloping furious
ly, cutting out great sods from the soft
turf and flinging them in u shower be-
hind him, while Owain sat close down
to the saddle, handling him in such
fashion as to get every nch Of advan-
tage.
Surely we are coming toward the
mouth Of the cwm?" said L.
1T Is hidden by a sharp turn only a
little distance ahead OF u.s." replied
Owain. B easy, Enid, we shall come
clear now, l feel sure. 1 know very
well that you are taking all the blame
upon yourself"
She turned her head and smiled. Her
lustrous eyes were full of courage and
full also OF a fear which was not fol
herself. He smiled gayly back, and
would not hav changed the compan.
ionship Of those two brave souls fol
any situation the world could offer.
The barking as of a fox had been left
far behind. AS soon as we burst t
our gallop, 1t had been changed fol
notes OF far other import-a long, wall
ing cry, very shrill, and followed by
a faint far-off echo, as II 1t had beer
repeated at a great distance.
or a sudden We galioped out of the
mist and saw before us the steep sides
and narrow mouth Of the cwm clear
against a saffron sky. We were ridins
westward, and though the sun was
down the sky vas filled with the after,
glow.
The wonderful purity and clearness o.
the mountain air after rain caused
every object which broke into the sky
line to stand out with an inky black