The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-20

| "Do your best, Selim! she urged.
"It's death behind; the river and safe
ty before"
But Selim was doing his best Every
muscle that like network vened his
dripping necl, and breast stood out
like whipcords, attestinG the desperate
effort he was making to distance his
bloodthirsiy pursuers, yet the feet
hoofs did not falter. On they sped I'M
til they struck the prairie.
Five miles of grassy level broke sud
denly into view, and the gallant horse
bounded at headlong speed on the open
plain.
But there new danger menaced
the brave girl. Her pursuers separat-
ed to the right and left, with the evil
dent intention OF surrounding their
helpless victim ard making her an
| easy prey before she could reach the
river.
Still cool and self-possessed, An
nette caught up her heavy riding skirt
to ease as much as possible the labor
ing lungs and foaming flank of her
now painting steed. She felt him
straining at every nerve, and with
hand and voice she strove to cheer
him on.
The heat, which was killing the finer
animal, had little effect on the horses
of the foe. They could not match the
thoroughbred in speed, for he had kept
the advance so far as to defy the dread
lariat but the hardy, long haired pom
les of the Mexicans were natives of
the soil, and did not greatly mind the
sultry atmosphere, or the suffocating
clouds of dust which arose, gray and
binding, before them.
Roweled on by their fierce riders,
they kept steadily in pursuit, appar-
entity not much the worse for their
long race, while poor Selim's wide
open mouth was dropping foam at
every step, and his smoking sides quiz
ering painfully under Annette's slight
weight.
An abrupt turn in the road, near at
hand, would bring them in sight of the
Half Way House. Five minutes more
and they would be safe. But alas!
where she had hoped to find safety
stood three dark, savage looking men,
whose object in being there it was not
at all hard to guess. Yet they would
scarcely dare TO murder her so near
the American forces encamped oppo-
site the Half Way House.
The thought gave her new courage,
and, when the foremost of the three
villains would have seized her bride.
she struck him a binding blow across
the eyes with her riding whip.
Half maddened by his terrible run,
Selim reared viciousiy and struck an
other of his would-be captors to the
ground, leaped over the PROSTATE
body, and was off again like the wind !
But his sudden onward dash was OF
short duration; in vain Annette urged |
the noble animal to one more effort |
1t was useless. Selim was staggering
along at swaying, uncertain pace, I'M
able to regain the advantage he had |
lost in the encounter with the three |
Mexicans, who, anticipating the |
chances Of Annette's escape, had been |
stationed in the turn of the road to in |
tercept her further fight in that direc-
ton.
Sick and dizzy with the heat, fatigue |
and fear of her frantic ride, Annette |
felt herself almost fainting in the |
saddle.
A furious yell from the Mexicans
,,+r /,
She answered the savage yell with a
joyous shout, for directly ahead came |
a company of United States troops
She was a soldiers daughter, and,
when she caught glimpse of the star
ry banner waving bright through a
cloud of dust. she could not suppress
a glad, wild cheer of triumph.
Not Mexican was in sight. Every |
one had disappeared in the tall grass,
or, hidden by the short curve, were
Fastening back to cover in the chapar-
raj.
Checking her horse Annette sprang
to the ground, and was quickly sur
by the amazed and wondering
troops
''Why, Miss Maynard" calculated the
captain in command what is the
matter"
Il have had desperate ride, Cap
tain Arthur; a dozen Mexicans pur-
sued me nearly all the way from town.
They have but just left me, and must
still be somewhere in the vicinity"
Lets after them, boys"' cried the
captain, not waiting to hear more, and
soon score of well armed horsemen
were galloping i'll all directions after
the fleeing Mexicans.
Selim stood dropping by the roadside,
his glossy coat gray with sweat and
dust, looking little like the magnif-
cent charger that so daintily prancd