The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-03-18
'1
D'ri and /
By IRVING BACHELOR
Author Of "Eben Holden" Darrell OF
the Blessed Isles" Etc.
CHAPTER Vl.-CoNrlSUEp.
Copyright, 1901. by Lothrop Publishing Company

We ate crackers and cheese while the
landlord was telling OF the west roads
and the probable location OF the Brit
ish. He stopped suddenly, peered over
my shoulder, and blew out the candle.
We could hear horse neighing in
the yard.
Some one ct the window" he
whispered. Then he ran to the door
and drew the bolt. Ain much idee
who t is he added, peering out of
the window by gosh! more n a
dozen folks out here. soldiers tew,
most Nv 'em on horseback. Come
quick"
We followed him upstairs, in the
dark, as they began to pound on the
door. From the yard light flashed
up. They were evidently building a
IRE SO that they could have better
shooting if we came out
MAY set the house afire," said the
landlord.
He quickly unwound big hose that
ran up to a tank in the peak above
us.
PLENTY O. water?" D'ri whispered.
"Rivers Nv it," said the landlord.
Tank S connected with the reservoir.
o the leadworks on the hill up there.
Big wooden pipe comes in the gable
end"
"Turn 'er on" said D'ri, quickly.
IAN let me hev that air hose"
The landlord ran up ladder. Dri
stuck the hose out of the window
The stream shot away with loud hiss.
stood by and saw the jet Of water
leap forth as big as pikestaff. A
man went off his horse, sprawling as
If he had been hit with club. The
Jet leaped quickly from one to another,
roaring on man and beast There was
. mighty scurry. Horses went head
long down the hill, some dragging their
riders. In the silence of the night,
bedlam had broken loose. The shout
Ing men, the plunging horses, the
stream of water roaring on rock and
road, woke the village. Men came
| running from behind the house to see
what had happened, then rushed after
their horses. Some fell cursing as the
water hit them. The landlord put his
mouth to my ear.
MEX fer yer hosses," he Missed.
We were below-stairs and out of
the door in jiffy. Two men fled be-
fore us at the stable, scrambled over
the fence, and went tumbling down.
hill. We bridled our horses with all
speed, leaped upon them, and went
rushing down the steep road, our
ir, IL n10~,
They tried to stop us at the foot of the
hill. but fell away as we came near.
I could hear the snap of their triggers
in passing. Only one pistol-shot came
after us. and that went high.
Guess their ammunition g leetle
wet" said D'ri, with a shout that
turned into laughter as we left the
British behind us.
A party Of four or five mounted and
gave chase; but our powder was bit
drier than theirs, and for time we
raked the road with our bullets. What
befell them l know not. l only know
that they held up and fell out of hear
ing.
Crossing small river at daylight,
we took the bed Of it, making our way
slowly for half mile or so into the
woods. There we built fire, and gave
the horses half the feed in our sad
dle-bags, and ate our mess on fiat
rock
Never he'd no sech joemightyful
time es tibet afore," said D'ri, as he sat
down, laughing, and shook his head.
"Jerushy Jane! Did mt we come down
tibet air hill! LUX slidin' on creased
pole"
| Comm so LUX the devil they did
mt dast git n er way" said Thurst.
1--WE WIS all rippin' tn afr 18th them
air joemightyful sabers, tew," D'ri
went on. "Hed purity middlin' sharp
edge on us. Stuck out LUX haystaclk
right n left"
He began bringing wood as he sang
the chorus of his favorite ballad
| Ii toorul oorul oorul ay, etc.
Thurst knew a trail that crossed the
river nearby and met the Caraway
Pike few miles beyond. Having eat
en-, | wrote a dispatch to be taken
back by Thurst as soon as we reached
the pike. Past 10 o'clock we turned
into rough road, where the three Of
us went one way and Thurst another.
rode slowly, for the horses were
nearly tagged l gave them an hours
rest when we put up for dinner. Then
! we pushed on, coming in sight of the
Chateau lie Ray at sundown. A splen-
did place 1t was, the castle Of gray
stone fronting a fair stretch Of wooded
lawn, cut by a brook that went splash
Ing over rocks near by, and sent it's
| velvet voice through the wood and
field. A road of fine gravel led through
groves of beech and oak and pine
to grassy terrace under the castle
walls. Presently a tall, handsome
man, with black eyes and iron-gray
hair and mustache, came down a path,
clapping his hands.
Welcome, gentlmen! 1t Is the
Capt. Bell?" said he, with marked
accent, as he came to me. his hand ex-
tended. "You come from Monsieur tho
Gen. Brown, do you not?"
4 d." said l, handing him my mes
sage.
He broke the seal and read It care
fully.
II am glad to SEQ you-ver' glad to
see you!" said he, laying his hands
upon my shoulders and giving me a
! little shake.
The two servants went away with
O'ri and Seth and the horses.