The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-03-01

rebels secret, agreed that no time was
to be lost in reaching Bodmin, that lay a
good thirty miles to the southwest. Night
fell and the young moon rose, with a
brisk breeze at our back that kept us
still walking without any feeling of
WEAKNESS. BY daybreak we spied a hill
in front, topp'd with a stout castle, and
under it a town OF Importance, that we
guessed to be Launceston.
We now drew up to consider if we
should enter the town or avoid it, trust
ing to find a breakfast in some tavern
OH the way. Because we Knew not with
certainty the temper of the country, it
seem'd best to choose this second course;
so we fetch'd around by certain barren
meadows, and thought ourselves lucky to
hit on a road that, by the size, must be
the one we sought, and a tavern with a
wide yard before il.
Now Providence hath surely led us to
breakfast" said Della, and stepp'd be-
fore me into the yard, toward the door.
| was following her when, inside of a
gate TO the right Of the house, ] caught
the CLEAN Of steel, and turn'd aside to
look. To my dismay there stood near a
score of chargers in this second court,
saddled and dripping with sweat. My
first thought was to run after Della; but
a quick surprise made me rub my eyes
with wonder. Twas the sight of a sorrel
mare among them-a mare with one high
white stocking. In a thousand l could
have told her for Molly.
Three seconds after | was at the tav-
ern door, and in my ears a voice sounding
that stopp'd me short and told me in one
instant that without heavens help all
was lost.
Twas the voice of Captain Settle
speaking in the taproom; and already
Della stood, past concealment, by the
open door.
"% = And therefore, master car
ter, it grieves me to d%isappoint thee; but
no man goeth this day toward Bodmin.
Such be my Lord of Stamford's orders.
whose servant | am, and as captain of
this troop / am sent TO exact them. AS
they displease you, his lordship is but
twenty-four hours behind; you can abide
him and complain. Aha!'
| heard his shout as he caught sight of
Della. l saw his crimson face as he
- oul HIl SIipI hSI Il sd vi
half saw, the troopers crowding out af-
ter him, For a moment l hesitated. Then
came my pretty comrades voice, shrill
above the hubbub-
"Jack-they have horses outside.
Leave mel am taken-and ride, dear
lad-ride.'
In a fash my decision was taken, for
better or worse. / dash'd out around the
house, vaulted the gate, and catching at
Molly's name, leap'd into the saddle. A
dozen troopers were at the gate, and two
had their pistols levelrd.
Surrender"
BE hang'd If | do.'
| set my teeth and put Molly at the
wall. AS she rose like a bird in air
two pistols rang out together. and q
burning pain seem'd to tear open my left
In a moment the mare alight-
ed safe on the other side. fiinging me for
on her neck. But | scrambled
back, and with a shout that frightened
my own ears, dug my heels into her
tanks.
Half a minute more and | was on the
road. galloping westward for dear
ite. SO also were Il score of rebel troop
ars. Twenty miles and more lay before
ne. and a bare hundred yards was my
tart.
And now did | indeed abandon myself
o despair. Few would nave given a
,roat for my life, with that crew at my
and | least of all, now that my
lear comrade was lost. The wound in
ny shoulder was bleeding sore, yet not so
as my heart. And / pressed my
nees into the saddle flap, and wondered
the end would be.
Molly was going her best. but the best
1as near spent. The sweat was oozing.
er satin ont losing the gloss, the spume
wing back from her nostrils-"Soh"' l
allied to her: "Soh! my beauty; we ride
D save an ARMY The loose stones flew
light and left. as she reach'd out her
eek. and her breath came shorter and
A mile, and another mile. we passed in
his trim, and by the end Of it must have
pent thr%ee-quarters of an hour at the
FORK. CHANGING back, | saw the troopers
far behind, but following. The
Fights were still a weary way ahead.
ut l could mark their steep sides ribb'd
nth boulders. Till these were passed,
here was no chance to hide. l reached
hese nj last. and then, high above, in
he hillside. / heard a veice calling.
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