Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-08-17
Copyright, 1909, by J. b. Lippincott Company
CHAPTER V.
AN INTERRUPTION.

AN INTERRUPTION.
Only a little over mile beyond
where he had met Jane she would
have to cross a creek. 1t was a mean
stream with quicksand bottom, I'M
forbade except at one place. This
ford, partly made by nature and
helped out by man, was marked on
either side OF the stream by a sign
post that travellers might not miss it
and get caught in the quicksand.
The night before some wild spirits
among the Americans, learning that
a band o9 TOxiCS was likely to cross
at that spot, and aflame with fury
over the treatment Bessemer had
given the Continentals at the battle
of the goth OF May, painstakingly dug
up the posts and placed them a little
lower down. The scheme had worked
SO we'll that the first Tories who had
attempted to GROSS were caught in
the quicksand and one man and two
horses were lost. In the confusion
which followed the whole band had
been well peppered with shot by the
concealed Americans. The intention
had been to move the posts back
the next morning, but Godfrey knew
this had not been done, and his heart
misgave hin when he thought, OF
Jane.
The plot filled him with loathing,
Mt once so wicked and so foolish was
it. Such underhand doings were not
his idea of warfare, yet it was these
same wild spirits who had conceived
1t that he was trying to weld. into
body of recruits.
When the creek came into view the
carriage was just entering the stream
between the posts. With shout of
warming, he dashed forward. AS he
drew nearer, he saw that the off
horse was already beginning to sink,
while the carriage lurched danger
ously.
Flinging himself from his horse,
Worthington snatched Jane from the
carriage and carried her to place of
safety. His next move was to rescue
Aunt Rachel and Nanny Anne, while
under his direction Gabriel began
search for a piece of rope under the
box-seat. where a supply of such
things were usually kept in those
days of bad roads and frequent
breakdowns. AbsalOm had already
cut the horses loose from the car
riage, and by means of the lines was
dragging the near-horse. which had
sunk only little way, back to firm
ground. The otf-horse was already
nearly in to his belly. and the task of
rescuing him was Il serious one.
Slowly, doggedly. physical strength
prevailed over natures treachery,
and gradually the horse was
dragged, all bruised and bleeding and
stunned with fright. to the ground.
II don't understand" Jane said. Il
am all in a daze. Here are the sign
posts, and yet this isn't the ford. The
ford is there. How does it come that
the posts have been moved?"
Worthington hung his head. "It
was done last night l believe" he
answered unwillingly and falteringly,
which was against him, "by some
hoodlums TO deceive party Of
Tories. who were coming this way"
ITO deceive some Tories? BY hood
lums? And what hoodlums, pray,
would stoop to a thing SO low but
those who are your partisans-
doubtless. among them? Oh, shame,
shamel To think that such atrocities
could be- Capt. Worthington. i am
obliged to you for the assistance you
have rendered me and my party this
morning, but l hope that this will
be the last occasion upon which we
shall meet. Never again do l wish
to look upon the face of one who
could lend himself to trick so base
Absalom. mount Elan, who does not
seem so much the worse for his ex-
perience, and ride back home as fast
as you IN for more horses. It's
useless to think of proceeding to my
aunt's to-day. If we can but get back
home in safety. we may consider our
selves most fortunate in these brutal
times. Meanwhile, | will walk to
Squire Henry's. IT'S but mile
She started off, Aunt Rachel and
her black nanny following, and
Godfrey let hc~ go without word
of explanation or defense. He told
himself that if Jane could find it in
her heart to accuse, him of a deed
at once so dastardly and so childish,
naught that he could say would have
weight with her. The loyal girl
friend Of his childhood and boyhood
was dead; the lane VINO would once