Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-07-23

4 would not neigh or make the slightest
sound.
| Creeping thus. reached clump OF
brambles from which 1 judged the
track should be in sight. Nor wes I
wrong. Peerlng cautiously through a
| thin place, my eye raked stretch OF
road, and there, credit me, was my
| Egyptian, dancing saraband on the
crown Of the caueeway, while three
swarthy ruffians lay on the bank.
Two We're lying idly. the third slapping
his leg and swapping his fingers IN
time to the girl's twinking feet and
flying petticoats.
A moving figure beyond caught my
eye. and I saw q fourth man come
round the bend and run nimbly toward
them. My glance was of the group for
barely second, but when looked
again the girl was alone. The runner
came up. spoke few words to tho
and the scarlet figure flung itself on
the bank where her companions had
been lying.
| Some three or four minutes
passed. then the bunch Of ponies
and travellers came in sight.
AS they approached. the Egyptian
began to groan heartily, as one In sore
and watched, for did not wish to In
terfere unless absolute need should
arise. Meanwhile the riders came on.
and the Egyptian groaned.
| When they were close upon her. the
| figure upon the hank feigned to be con-
scious for the fret time Of their pres
ence. Half-raising herself, she held out
her arms with an tmploring gesture,
then fell back. The ronies were stayed
opposite, and, at word from one OF
| the riders. the tall man with the car
! 5ine gave up the rein of the led pony
and went to the Egyptian.
\ AS he came up to her she crouched
and bent over her With the speed of
| thought she turned and flung a Slip
moose over his head. The rope, in
| stanty tautened by an accomplice on
| the other side of the thicket. ran tight
| about his neck, and with a strangling
| cry he pitched forward on his face.
sprang to the saddle. and, sword in
hand. drove Whitesock forward at the
gallop, for the real cry of distress had
been q signal for the four men to
\ spring from their ambush, and the lit
tie party was surrounded
But as rode forward. I shouted with
delight to see what had happened.
The two women at bay turned on their
attackers with all the courage of ANA
IONS. One leaped from her pony and
| flew to the fallen man, and saw the
shine of a knife in her hands. With
one deft blow she severed the choking
cord, and before the Egyptian could
turn to escape, with a single swift turn
OF the wrist slashed the decoy clean
across her naked bosom.
The Egyptian fed, screaming, the
| flowing of blood darkening her scar
let bodice. The other rider sat her
pony steadily and discharged two pis-
| tolls at the foe. These were both fired
at the two men behind. who were the
nearer assailants
The two in front, amazed to find
Whitesock sweeping down on them like
Il thunderDolt, nevertheless lodged
nimbly to the one side. and swung their
| hangers in readiness Both eyed me
as cool as possible, one on either hand.
saw their intention at once. Which
ever drew my stroke, the other would
| leap in and endeavor to hamstring the
| mare.
Now 1 had as lief they should ham
string me as Whitesock, and SO I feint-
ed the left-hand rogue. who jumped
back. and then brought my sword
fellow as he sprang in. The blade took
him fairly across the skull, but his hat
was stiffened with some pieces Of met
al. for felt the sword did not bite
The force of the blow drove him head
long to the ground. and his hanger fell
1 harmless.
| drew rein. ana whitesock came to
stand within yard of the ponies. l
looked round but our hight was fought.
The footpads had not bargained for
this, and they FASTENED to beat q re-
tres. Three Of them vanished at
once; one carried couple of slugs In
his shoulder from the second pistol the
fourth. whom ! cut down. regaining
his senses after a few moments and
\ Staggering into the bushes
| At q nearer View, | saw the horse
women We're both girls. That is to
say, the one with the bloody knife In
her hand certainly was; and the other.
though she kept her face closely muf
fed m the cape of her gray cloak, I
judged to much of the same age. They
were clad in thick country homespun,
new and warm. and looked like farm
er's daughters in their holiday attire.
/ We are much indebted to you, SIR"
said the one who had remand in the
saddle, in o low, clear, pleasant voice,
'and thank you heartily for your
help"
You are very welcome, said I,
Though indeed think you are very
capable of defending yourselves.''
I'VE had shot out bolt, l fear" she
returned; land sianis knife would
have awaited but little against swords"
For myself, looked upon Siani with
4
Welsh woman Of whom had read In
the histories-the women whose long
knives were as dreadful as the swords
of the warriors. She was short, stout
girl, squarely planted on her feet, her
eye bright with the fire Of danger and
battle. gripping her knife like a dag
ger, nor was 1T unlike q dagger, having
a blade six inches long, two bingers
broad and the end slightly curved, and
| Whetted to keen edge.
The Egyptian" said I. will have
to cover her bosom for thefuture. or be
forever inventing lies OF how she came
by that scar.
At this moment the bodyguard sat
up and began rubbing his throat. Dis
mounting. / looked at his neck, and
found that the rope had left purple
mark. and. had 1t not been for that
timely stroke Of the knife, he would
have marched no. more In attendance
on damsels. His carbine was gone. 1t
ambush who had been placed there to
tug the cord.
In few minutes he was ready to
march, and off we moved, for the cover
| was SO thick that had one Of them re-
turned with the stolen gun he might
have marked us down as thirty yards
with perfect safety to himself. A few
minutes brought us to the open, and
a mile further I perceived that my
company was no longer necessity to
them. Houses and farms began to
come into sight. and determined to
push forward.
do you know the country running
northumberland from Rhayeder through
the hills?" said to the girl who spoke
English.
Il do" she replied.