Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-23

begun to shoot, lodging between trees,
and redcoat had tumbled over.
bore in upon my man. but he came
back at me with surprising vigor. On
my word, he was the quickest swords
man l ever had the honor Of facing.
But he had mean way of saying
Hal as he turned my point. He
soon angered me. whereupon | lost a
bit of caution, with some blood, for he
was at me like flash. and grazed me
on the hip before I could get my head
again. 1t was no parlor play. can
tell you. We were fighting for life. and
both knew it. We fought UP and down
through brakes and bushes and over
stones-a perilous footing. l could
feel his hand weakening. put all
MY speed to the steel then, knowing
We'll that. barring accident should
win. ! could hear somebC oning
up behind ME.
Keep away there my adversary
shouted with fairness l admire when
/ think of it, Il can handle him. Get
the other fellow
went at him to make an end Of 1t.
"lll make you squint, you young
cub" he Kissed. lunging at me.
He ripped my blouse at the shoul-
der, and. gods Of war! We made the
sparks fly. Then he went down. wrig-
Cling; I had caught him in the side,
poor fellow! Like flash | was of
in thicket. One of the enemy got
| n,rt x,f nd 1,,,11 OF oft "a
me. l could feel 1t rip and sting in
the muscle as it rubbed my ribs.
kept foot and made for my horse. He
had caught his reins. and l was on
! him and off in the bush. between bull
let's that came ripping the leaves about
me. before they could give chase.
Drums were beating the call to arms
somewhere. struck the trail in q
minute, and, leaning low In the saddle.
went bounding over logs and rocks
down a steep hillside as II the devil
were after me. / looked back, and was
nearly raked of by bough. could
hear horses coming in the trail behind
with quick and heavy jumps. But
was up to rough riding and had little
fear they would get sight of me-.
However. crossing q long stretch Of
burnt timber. they must have seen me.
/ heard crack Of pistols far behind;
q whiz OF bullets over my head.
shook out the reins and let the horse
20, urging with cluck and spur, never
shaking for rock or hill or swale. II
was wilder ride than any have
known since or shall again. l can
promise you, for. God knows. I have
been hurt too often. Fast riding over
Q new trail is leaping In the dark and
worse than treason to ones self. Add
to it saddle wet with your own blood,
then you have something to give you
a turn OF the stomach thinking Of It.
When ! was near tumbling with q
kind of rib-ache and could hear no pur-
suer. pulled up. There was silence
about me. save the sound Of q light
breeze In the tree-tops. I rolled OF
my horse. and hooked my elbow In
| the reins. and lay on my belly, grunt-
ing with pain. | felt better, having
got my breat1 and Il rod Of beech to
bite uron-a good thing II one has been
badly stung and has a journey to make.
In five minutes was up and of at
slow jog, for ! knew was near safety.
thought much of poor D'ri and
how hs might be fayips. The last ]
had seen Of him, he was making good
use OF pistol and legs, running from
tree to tree. He was dead shot. little
given to wasting lead. The drums were
what worried me. tor they indicated
a big camp, and unless he got to the
stirrups in short order. he must have