The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-03
CHAPTER XII.

| found the door, and D'ri flung GU
buds" into the darkness that lay be
You'd II. Then he made down the lad
der and | after him Ii was pitch
dark in the cellar-a deep. dank place
with a rank odor of rotting potatoes
We CROPPED oar way TO a corner ant
stood listening We heard the clinl
Of spurs on the stone step.
All, my good woman" said a mar
with marked English accent. "haye
you seen any Yankees? Woods are
full of them around here. No? Well
by Jove, you're a good-looking woman
VIII you give me a kiss?'
He crossed the floor above as, and
she was backing away.
Come, come, don't be so shy, my
pretty woman" said he, and then we
could hear her struggling up and down
the floor. ! was climbing the ladder,
in the midst of 1t, my face burning
with anger, and D'ri was at my heels.
AS the door opened | saw she had fall
len. The trooper was bending to kiss
her. had him by the collar and had
AdAiIh NAM JONA DriOlC lie ulStONeItU
MS. In a twinkling D'ri had stripped
him OF sword and pistol. But ii was
one OF the most hopeless situations in
all my life. Many muzzles were point
ing at us through the door and win
dow. Another hostile move from either
would have ended our history then
and there. | let go and stood back
The man got 10 his feet-a handsome
: soldier in the full uniform of British
captain.
All, there's fine pairl" he said
coclly, whipping leg of his trousers
with his glove Il II teach you better
manners. my young fellow. Some o.
those shipwrecked Yankees" he added,
turning to his men. III they move
without an order, pin EN- up to the
wall"
He picked up his hat leisurely, step
ping in front of D'ri.
Nov. my obliging friend" said he.
holding out his hand. 81 II trouble you
for my sword and pistol"
D'ri glanced over at me, an ugly
look in his eye. He would have fought
TO his death then and there If | had
given him the word. He was game TO
the core when his blood was up. the
same old D'ri.
Don't fight" | said
He had cooked the pistol and stood
braced. the sword in his right hand
| noticed little culver in the great
sinews Of his wrist | expected to see
that point of steel shoot with quick
stab. into the scarlet blouse before
me.
Shoot N be damned" said D'ri.
Fore ! die We II hev hole er tew n
tibet air karkiss o. yourn. Shan't give
up no weepon tell we've gin me yer
word We II let tibet air woman alone"
| expected a volley then. A very
serious look came over the face of the
captain. He wiped his brow with
handkerchief could see that he had
been drinking.
All, see, You have an interest in
her Well, my man. want no share
in your treasures. | accept the condl-
ton"
Evil as was the flavor of this poor |
concession, D'ri made the best of It,
She S an honest woman for all !
know" said he, handing over the |
weapons, Amt a-goin' { see no ledy |
mishused-nut eff can help IT,.
We gave ourselves up hand and |
foot to the enemy; there was no way |
out of it. / have read in the story |
books how men of great nerve and skill /
have slaughtered FIVE to one, escaping
with no great loss of blood. Well. of
a brave man / like to believe good
things. My own eyes have seen what
has made me slow to doubt a story OF
prowess that has even the merit OF
possibility. But when there are only
two of you, and one without arms
and you are in a corner, and there are
10 pistols pointing at you few feet
away. and as many sabers ready to
be drawn, | say no power less remark
able than that of God or novelist
can bring you out of your difficulty,
You have your choice of two evils
or be cut to pieces. We
had neither of MS any longing to be
slashed with steel and bored with bull
lets. and to no end but a good epltaph
They searched the cellar and found
our clothes, and wrapped them in bum
ole. Then they tied our hands behind us
and took us along the road on which |
had lately ridden. crowd came jeer-
ing to the highway as we passed the
little village. 1t was my great fear that
somebody would recognize either one
or both OF US.
Four of our men we're sitting In o
guard-house at the British camp. After
noon mess teamster drove up with
DIG wagon. Guards came anc snackIeo
US in pairs, Dri being wrist to wrist
with me. They put a chain and ball
On Dri's leg also. wondered why, for
no other was treated with like respect.
Then they bundled us all into the wa
son, now surrounded by impatient
cavalry. They put blindfold over the
eyes OF each prisoner, and went away
Ii lively pace. We rode long time,
as it seemed TO me, and by and by !
knew we had come TO a city. for |
'ould hear the passing of many wagons
IND the murmur of a crowd. Some .
H.. u.