Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-06-15

of Foxcroft.
Impatient | stopped to grasp Shem.
mel and already had him by the col
lar when an exclamation and sudden
trampling OF horses made me turn my
head just In time to see a British officer
seize Jack Mount and attempt to drag
him from his saddle
Before could straighten up the
cavalry were upon us. saw Foxcroft
snap his pistol. wheel and gallop into
the reeds. / saw Jack Mount ding the
officer of and fetch him cracking
blow with the barrel OF his rife. Two
men rode at me. l raised my rifle with
one hand, calling Shemuel to mount be
hind me, but the frightened peddler
squirmed out of my clutch and rushed
OF headlong into the marsh.
A borseman followed him, cursing.
The other trooper, mired In the PUSHES,
struggled to get at me.
swung my rife to my cheek. 1t
dashed In the pan. The brute set his
horse at gallop and, leaning forward,
deliberately shot at the unarmed ped
dler. Shemuel lodged, ran few
yards. doubled on the horsemen AMI
came rushing back toward Mount. He
gained a little hillock of rising ground.
He could have escaped into the firing
ing willows, but TO my horror he
turned and waved his arms to me.
shouting:
"Ride, ride. MIR. Cardigan! For Miss
warren's sake ride, sirp'
Again I tried to shoot the trooper.
but the flint sparks died out In the
damp pan. With groan rode after
him, calling out to Shemuel to seek
cover In the brush.
Then while my horse was founder
ing In the marsh, slowly drawing his
mired limbs to firm ground, | saw
Ehemuel Dart toward me with shrek,
and ere I could reach him l saw the
trooper bend down from his saddle
and slash the poor. frightened crea-
lures head with one terrible blow Of
his heavy saber
Down into the mud plunged Shem-
uei- The troopers horse trampled and
passed over his body. then swung In
rushing circle and bore down on me
Just as the other rider came splashing
1t me from the right
MY ride q third time flashed In the
pan. The printing had been wet with
spray. ! struck Warlock on the tanks.
whirled him head on against Shemu-
efs murderer and, whipping out my
war Ratchet. aimed a furious blow at
the fellows head. The keen Ratchet
blade sank into the troopers shoulder.
He tumbled out OF his stirrups and
landed heavily among the cattails.
instantly / checked Warlock, poised
myself In my stirrups and launched
the Ratchet straight ut the other horse
man, striking him full in the chest. but
whether with blade edge. handle or
nat | know not, for as his horse
swerved wide. passing me at tearing
gallon. Mount and Foxcroft dew past,
calling out that Shemuel was dead and
that ! must follow them for my life
Up the shore we crashed through the
ruahes, driving straight out into the
marsh. our horses. doundering and the
light horsemen firing their pistols at us
from the f1rmer ground above.
They'll murder rs all ,herey' cried
rQxcEQft Charge tlsemA In Gods
Mount heard him and bore to the
Ieff. followed. Knee to knee we lift
ID our craxed horses out Of the marsh
and hurled toem INTO the little patrol
or light horse, bursting upon them ere
they could wheel TO meet us.
In the moonlight their sabers flashed
before our cyes. but no Iunging point
found its billet OF fiesh. though their
blades rang out on our ride barrels.
Then we were or them. among them.
plunging through them and pounding
away northwAri over hard gravel
road
An pursuit ceased below Prospect
hill. We galloped unmolested into the
old Charlestown and West Cambridge
road and dew onward through the
night.
In lonely stretches or road which ran
rivers Of moonlight could see Mount
riding, head on his breast. square Jaw
ct. ana knew he was brooding on
Ghemuel's dismal end.
MI. F0xcroft undertook to pilot az.
a. rode By hls side could scarce be-
Here that yonder. close at hand in the
Darkness. silver Heels slept nor doubt
a that was near. My heart began
o~1rummiuE.