Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-20
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Demon on Horseback.

|
successful achievement was mine. and with
exultation of a soldier in having surmount-
ed obstacles and peril, 1 nearly forgot for
the moment the heart tragedy left behind.
| The swift impetus of the ride, the keen
| night air sweeping past me, the fresh sense
| of freedom and power engendered by that
| reckless dash through the darkness, all
| consp1red to render me neglectful of every
thing save the joy of present victory. The
| spirit OF wild adventure was in my blood.
| A dozen splits of fire cleaved the intense
blackness behind, and I knew the widely
scattered patrol were sending chance shots
| across the stream. A clang of hoofs rang
out upon the rocks but could distinguish
nothing indicating large pursuing party
| probably the two who were mounted at the
ford. with possibly others following when
| they caught their strayed horses. had
little to fear from such half-hearted pur-
| suit as this was sure to be. The swift,
| powerful stride of the animal / rode as
| sured me that 1 was not i'll mounted, and
there was small chance of contact with fed
| eral outriders before 1 should reach the
| protecting picket lines of our own army. I
| laughed grimly as leaned slightly back in
| saddle and listened; it was like a play, so
| swift and exciting had been the passing
| events, SO unexpected their ending. I Won
| dered what plausible story the discounted
| lieutenant would concoct to account for his
| predicament, and whether the others had
| yet missed me back at the Mansion
! House.
The stars appeared to be paling some
| what down in the east, for the coming
| day-dawn was already whitening the hori-
| zon. l glanced at my watch, venturing to
! strike match for the purpose, and found
the hour after 3 o'clock. Early, knew,
was at Sowder Church, and his advance
| cavalry pickets ought to be as far west as
| the Warrentown road. The distance be-
| tween, by hard riding, might be covered
| In three hours. My horse seemed fresh,
| his breath came naturally and without eff
| fort, and l pressed him along rapidly. for
| my whole ambition now centered upon
| bringing the information possessed within
| our own lines. Bungay, beyond doubt, had
| been recaptured long since, for my own
experience told me how extremely vigilant
| were the federal guards. To one unac-
| quainted as he was with military customs
! it would prove impossible to penetrate their
| lines; hence, everything must depend upon
F., my getting through in safety.
| Then my thoughts drifted to the one l
! had left in such serious predicament. If
| had loved her before, l loved her doubly
now, for she had proven herself woman
| among women in time Of danger and trial.
| How clearly her face, with those dark
sweet eyes and the wealth of browning hair,
| rose before me, while word by word re-
| viewed all that had passed between US,
| dwelling upon each look or accent that
| Then reason returned to my aid, and reso-
lutely, determinedly, inspired by every in
| stinct of soldierly honor, l resolved that l
| would put her from my thoughts forever.
| She was not mine either to love or possess,
| unless the uncertain fate of war should
! chance to set her free Even to dream of
her, to cherish her in memory while she
| remained the wife of another, was but
! an affront to her purity and womanhood.
| l would prove myself man entitled to her
respect. a soldier worthy my service and
ITO TIll r1pHd n
find mention in her presence it should be
| spoken with honor.
! I was musng thus, lullel by the steady
| lope of my horse, and totally insensible
| to any possibility of peril when clear upon
my ears. instantly awakening me from such
| reverie, there rang through the night 81
lence the sharp clang of iron on the road
| behind me. All sound of pursuit had long
| since died away and I supposed the eff
| fort to recapture had been abandoned.
| But there was no installing now-at least
| one horseman, riding recklessly through
| the black night, was pressing hot upon
my trail.
| ant burning with anger at the trick played
| upon him, has pushed far ahead of his
| troop. doubtless mounted upon a better
| horse, determined to risk everything if he
may only bring me back dead or alive
| This thought awoke me in an instant from
my dreaming and l spurred my horse flu
| riously, glancing anxiously backward as I
| rode, but unable through that dense gloom
to distinguish the form of my pursuer. Yet
| the fellow was coming coming faster than
any speed 1 could possibly conjure out Of
the weary black I bestrode, either by whip
| or spur. Closer and closer upon me came
| rushing down that pounding of iron hoofs
| on the hard path. Heavens! how like a
| very demon the man rode! AS a trooper
| could not withhold admiration from the
| reckless audacity with which the venge-
| full fellow bore down upon me. In spite
| of my utmost efforts it almost seemed as if
we were standing still. Surely nothing less
| than hate, and thirst for vengeance bit
| ter as death, implacable as fate. could
| ride like that through the black night on
| the track of hunted mani
| 1 was able to trace dimly his outlines
| now as he rose on an eninence in my rear,
his horse looming dark against the sky, like
| those giant steeds that snorted fire in my
| child's picture books at home, and then
| with increasingly loud thunder of hoof
| beats. he came charging straight down to-
| ward me. In sheer desperation l glanced on
| either side, seeking some avenue of escape
| but the high banks were unscalable; my
| sole remaining hope lay in a shot which
should drop that crazed brute before he
| struck and crushed me. Riding my best,
| with all the practiced skill of the service
| I swung my body sideways, bracing myself
firmly in the deep saddle, and took steady
| aim. The hammer came down with dull
| dead click, the revolver was chargeless. and
| with an exclamation of baff1ed rage / hurl-
| ed the useless weapon full at the anyanc-
| ing brute Almost at the instant we struck,
1
| while over US both, as if shot from a can
| non, plunged our pursuer his horse turn
! ing a complete somersault, the rider fall
| ing so close that l was upon-h him almost
| as soon as he struck the ground.
A dip of the flying hoof had cut shall
low cash across my forehead and nv hair
was wet with blood yet bruised and half
| stunned as I was from the hard fall nv
| sole longing was to reach and throttle that
mailman who had ridden me down in such
demon style.
"You unclaimed devilr' I cried savagelv.
| whirling him over upon his back ''I shared
your life once tonight, but, by all the gods,
I'll not do it again!
Gosh, Cap is tibet your" asked the
| voice of the other feebly.
I started back and lost my hold upon
him.
"Bungay?" in an establishment that near
| ly robbed me of utterance Good God.
| man! is this really you?"
Its whut's left O. me- he answered SOL
EMMY. sitting up and feeling his head as If
| expecting to find it gone Tibet wus bout
| ther worst ride ever Took
II should think it likely" exclaimed. NV
anger rising again as I thought of it.
What, in heavens name, do you mean by
| riding down on me like that?'
afT4o1v Gee CAM he axplo;naa xo,,t.z+,,.