The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-16

third week Dick was UP and able to ride
again, this time without the forked STICK
TO hold him in the saddle.
After this we went on without mlshap,
and with no hardship greater than that of
living solely upon the meat victual pro-
vided by the hunters rifle; and you know
how this plow-dressed region at this later
day will wonder when / write 1T down that
in all that long faring, or. rather, to the
last days stage OF 1t, We saw never face
of any of our kind, or of the Catawbas.
You may be sure the month or more we
spent thus in the heart of the wildwood
was but a sorry time for me. While the ex-
element of the pursuit and rescue lasted,
and later when anxiety for Richard filled
the hours of the long days and nights. |
that pit of despair which / had digged for
myself.
But when the strain was off and Dick was
up and mt again, the misery of ii all came
back with added goadings. | had never
dreamed how cutting sharp 'twould be to
see these two together day by day; to. see
her loving, tender care of him, and to hear
him babble of his love for her in his fever
ish vaporings. Yet all this / must endure,
apd with 1T thing even harder. For. to
make ii worse, If worse could be, the shad-
ow OF complete e3trangement had fallen
beween Margery and me. True to her word,
given In that moment when l had besought
her not to speak aloud for her own safety's
sake, she had never opened her lips to me !;
and for aught she said or did l might have
been deaf mute slave beneath her notice.
And as she drew away from me. she
seemed to draw the closer to Richard Jenni-
fer, nursing him alive when he was at his
worst, and giving him all the womany
care and sympathy sick man longs for.
And later, when he was fit TO ride again,
she had him always at her side in the on
ward faring.
AS have said before. this was all as
would have 1T. Yet it made me sick in my
souls soul; and at times / must needs fall
behind to rave 1t out in solitude, cursng the
day that was born, and that other more
mil fnr ftfyaa 70 1n.r sxvl,A IaI L.
barrier impossible between these two.
What wonder then, that, we neared
| the fighting field of the great war, / grew
more set upon seizing the first chance that
might offer an honorable escape from all
| these heartburnings? Twas a weakness, If
you choose; | set down here naught but
far beyond excusings the underlying
cause Of ii was beyond forgiveness.
twas on the incl day, the day when we
were riding tantivy to reach Queensborough
| by evening, that my deliverance came.
| say deliverance because at that moment IL
had the look of a short shrift and ready
| halter.
| We had crossed our own Catawba and
were putting our horses at the steep bank
on the outcoming side, when my saddle
slipped Dismounting to tighten the girth, l
| called to the others to press on, saying |
would overtake them shortly.
The promise was never kept. scarce had
my head under the saddle flap before a
| couple of stout knaves In homespun, ap-
| pearing from 1 know not where, had me
| fast gripped by the arms, whilst a third
made sure of the horse.
"A dispatch rider said the bigger of the
| two who pinioned me. Search him, Martin
lad, whilst | hold him; then We'll pay him
out for Tarleton's hanging of poor Sandy
| held my peace and let them search TAX
| ing the threat for bit of soldier bullyrag-
! ging meant to keep me quiet. But when they
| had turned the pockets of my borrowed
coat inside out and ripped the lining and
made 1t otherwise as much the worse for
| their mishandling as 1t was for wear, the
third man fetched rope.
| Did you mean that, friend ?-about the
| hanging" / asked, wondering If this should
be my loophole of escape from the life
| grown hateful.
Sure enough" said the big man, coolly
| You'd best be saying your prayers
| / laughed. Were you wearing my coat
and l yours, you might hang me and well
come in truth. you may as it is Which
| tree will you have me at?'
The man stared at me as at one de-
mented. Then he burst out in a guffaw
'Damme. If you bean't a cool plucked one!
I've mind to take you to the colonel
Don't do it. my friend. Though 1 am
something loath to be snuffed out by the
over the niceties. Point out your tree
mo, by God! you're too willing. What's
at the back of all this?"
Nothing save a decent reluctance tc
| spoil your sport. Have at II, man, and let's
be done with it,
Not if you beg me on your knees. You'll
go to the colonel. l say, and he may hang
you If he sees At. You must be a most
| damnable villain to want to die by the frs,
| rope you lay eyes on
THAT is as it may be. Who is your colo
nel?'
Nay, rather, who are your"
| l gave my name and circumstance and
was loosed of the hand-grip, though the
third man dropped the cord and stepped
back to hold me covered with his rifle.
An ireton, you say? Not little Jock
surelyr'
your back. though you have a hand as
| thick as ham,
He ignored the challenge and stuck to his
text. Il never thought to see the son of ole
Mad-bull Rober wearing red coat" he
said.
THAT is nothing. Many as good a Whie
| as l am has been forced to wear a rec
| coat ere this. or go barebacked. But why
| don't you knot the halter? In common jus.
| tice you should either hang me or feed me
It's hard upon noon, and / breakfastec
early"
Fall in" said the big man; and so
| was marched quickly aside from the roaC
and into the denser thicketing of the wood
Here my captors blindfolded me. and after
| spinning me around to make me lose the
| compass points, hurried me away TO theil
encampment. which was inland from the
hear the distance-minished splashing of the
| water.
When the kerchef was pulled from m,
eyes l was standing in the midst of ;
| mounted riflemen's halt camp, face to face
with a young officer wearing the uniform
| of the colonelcy in the North Carolina home
| troops. He was a handsome young fellow
| with curling hair and trim side whiskers tC
| frame face fine-lined and eager--the face
of gentleman well-born and well-bred
| Captain Ireton?" he said; by which
guessed that one of my capturers had rur
on ahead to make report
| THE same 1 replied
| And you are the son of Mr. Justice Rog
er Ireton. of Appleby Hundred?'
| 81 have that honor"
He gave me his hand most cordially
You are very welcome. captain; Davit
| Is my name. trust We may come to know
| each other better. You are in disguise as
take 1t; do you bring news of the army?''
| "On the contrary. | am thirsting fol
| news" i rejoined. II and three others hay,
but now returned from pursuing a British
and Indian powder convoy into the noun
tains TO the westward. We have been on
| five weeks and more"
He looked at me curiously lyon ant
three others?" he queried. Come apart ant
tell me about Ii whilst Pompey is broiline
the venison. l scent a whole Iliad in tina
| word of yours, Captain Ireton.
''One thing first IL you please. Colone
Davie," / begged. my companions are far
ing forward on the road to Queensborough
They know naught of my detention. VIII
note from me?"
| The colonel INDUCED me in the most gen
tlemanly manner; and when my note I,
Jennifer was dispatched We sat together a
the roots of a great oak and / told him al
that had befallen our little rescue party
He heard me through patiently. and whel
the tale was ended was good enough TO sa,
part in the affair. I laughed and prompt,
| shifted that burden 10 Enhrair Yeate