The Irish standard., 1905-04-15

went away in the timber, down to 4
rocky point, where l knew the wreck
was visible.
They were no sooner out of sigha
than pulled the stake and saber, and
showed the latter under my big coat.
Then lifted the beaver and looked
about me. There was not a soul in
sight. From that level plain the field
ran far to thick wood mounting over
the hill. moved cautiously that way.
for | was in the path of people whs
would be coming to see the wreck
l got near the edge of the distant
wood, and hearing a noise, halted.
and stuck my stake, and drew my
hands back in the sleeves, and
stood like scarecrow, peerinx
through my hat. Near me, in ths
woods, could hear the cracking d
sticks and low voice. Shortly tWa
Irishmen stuck their heads out Of q
bush. My heart gave leap in me.
for l saw they were members Of M
troop
Hello, ,here!" called in q LOUD
voice.
1t startled them. They turned them
heads to see where the voice cams
from, and stood motionless. pulled
my stake and made for them on the
run. 1 should have known better.
for the sight of me would have tried
the legs of the best trooper that evsr
sat in saddle. AS they told me after
ward, it was enough to make a lion
yelp
Holy Mother!" said one, as thes
broke through the bush, running for
their lives. l knew not their namea
but called them as loudly as | dared.
They went on, never Stacking pace. II
was a bad go, for l was burning for
news of D'ri and the rest of them.
Now could hear some heavy animal
bounding in the brush as il their run
ming had startled him. | went back to
the corn for another stand. Suddenly
horse came up near me, cropping the
brush. l saw he was one off the boat
for he had bride and saddle, rein
hanging in two strings, and was badly
cut. My friend! the sight of a horse
did warm me to the toes. tIe got q
taste Of the tender corn presently, and
came toward me as he ate. In a mo-
ment | jumped to the saddle, and he
went away leaping like a wild deer.
He could not have been more fright
ened II 1 had dropped on him out or
the Sly. | never saw such energy in
flesh and blood before. He took 4
mighty fright as my hand went to his
wltherS, but the other had grip on
the pommel, and l made the stirrups.
leaned for the strings of the reign,
but his neck was long. and could not
reach them. Before knew it we werr
tearing over hill at merry pace
l can tell you. was never so put to
1t for the right thing to do, but
chung on. The big hat shook down
upon my collar. In all my life hat
never saw hat SO big. Through ths
break in it ! could see farmhouse
In jiffy the horse had cleared 3
fence, and was running, with the fees
of terror. in a dusty road. grew an
cry at myself as we tore along@
knew not why. 1t was rage Of dis
comfort, fancy, for somehow, never
felt SO bounded and cluttered, so up in.
the air and out of place in my body
The saber was working loose and
hammering my knee; the big hat was
rubbing my nose, the straw cl1afing
my chin. I had something under my
arm that would sway and whacl1 the
side Of the horse every leap he made
bore upon it hard, as if it were the
jewel of my soul. l wondered why,
and what it might be. In a moment
the big hole of my hat came into con-
junction with my right eye. On nv
word, 1t was the stake! How it came
there | have never known, but, for
some reason l held to it. looked
neither to right nor left, but sat erect
one hand on the hit of my saber, the
other In the name of the horse, know
Ing full we'll was the most hideous-
looking creature in the world If /
had come to the gate of heaven be-
lieve st. Peter would have dropped
his keys. The straw worked up, and
a great wad of it hung under my chin
like bushy beard. l would have Civ
en- anything for sight of myself, ant
laughed to think Of it, although fax,
Ing a deadly peril, as / knew. But
was young and had no fear in me
those days. Would that man could
have his youth on his death-bed! II
was leap in the dark, but l wax
ready to take my chances.
Evidently l was nearing a village
Groups of men We're in the shady
thoroughfare; children thronged the
dooryards. There was every sign of b.
holiday AS we neared them caughx
my saber under my knee, and drew
my hands into the long sleeves and
waved them wildly, whooping like az
Indian. They ran back to the fences
with start Of fear AS passed them
they cheorcd loudly, waving their hats
and roaring with laughter. An old
horse, standing before an inn, broke,
his halter and crashed over a fence
scared dog ran for his life in front
OF me, yclping as he leaped over
stone wall. Geese and turkeys flew in
the air as I neared them. The people
had seemed to take me for some vii
lage youth on masquerade. We
flashed into the open country before
the sound Of cheering had died away
On We went over long strip of hard
soil, between fields, and off in thu
shade of thick forest. My horse be-
gan to tire. tried to calm