The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-15


killed?'
HE went down. and 1 supposed him
shot, but was in too much Of a hurry
to inquire"
"He and others rode to the north last
night, and they are now between us
and Carlisle"
"He has Us many lives as a cat. If
that is the case why do you say the
road to Carlisle is clear?'
Because from Carlisle to Newcastle,
right across England, the Gordon is to
be stretched, and from Carlisle west to
the coast. Before we can reach there
a line of m~1. almost within touching
distance of each other, will extend from
sea to sea, aad all traffic north will be
stopped. A thousand pounds is on
your head. The general himself is on his
way north to see that you are trapped.
or to be ready for any outbreak Of the
| Scots should you win through"
II fear l have been unable to con-
vince Oliver that am the devil, since
he takes such excellent human means
Of frustrating me. A thousand pounds.
And yet you held that first day l was
Of slight value!
"What do you propose to do"
"You are the plan maker Of this
foray. What do you propose to do. or
have you thought of that yet?''
81 have not only thought of it, but
have received instructions on it. 1
have heard the officers discuss what
should be done, but l want to hear
your conclusions first"
every we'll. The line runs from the
west coast to Newcastle. At Newcas-
tie l am more than forty miles from
| Scotland at the nearest point, while at
Carlisle am less than ten. Every step
east l go l am placing myself more
and more at disadvantage, yet l
might 60 east simply because of this
and because they know that know
that they know 1 am on the road to
Carlisle. Having fallen into one am
bush they will imagine me on the con-
slant outlook for another. Going free
for so long, they might even count on
my increasing carelessness, but shrewd
men would not lippen to that. Know
ing am single handed and can make
no stand, they will expect me to creep
through at night either east or west OF
Carlisle and as near as may be to that
place, trusting to the short distance
and the fleetness of my horse in a race
for the Scottish border. l am a hills
man, accustomed to threading my way
through a wild country, with keen
eye for an enemy. l have avoided all
the big towns, Birmingham, Manches
ter and the like. so they will not ex-
pect me to risk either Newcastle or
/ Carlisle Night will be the time when
they are greatly on the alert especial
| ly if this storm continues. Very well
again. Who am l if questioned?
am a trooper Of Cromwell's own horse,
sent north from Warwick. having seen
this escaped devil of a Scot and there
fore the more likely to identify him. l
have become detached from my compa
ny in the storm. 1 will ride into Car
Isle in broad daylight and ask where
the Warwick horse are to be found
the man they sought, and as the talk
was all of this man 1 could not help
but hear and was indeed very glad
to listen.''
AS evening drew ON. conversation
Jagged, and they rode silently together,
keeping doggedly to the work in hand
in, spite of the tagging energies of
their horses and their own bedraggled
WEAKNESS. The rain fell with pitiless
steadiness, and darkness came on ear
ly, with no chance of a moon being
visible that night The welcome light
of town twinkled ahead at last, and
they resolved to stop there unless the
risk threatened to be overwhelming.
At the outskirts they learned that they
had reached Clitheroe, and that the
Star inn offered fair accommodation
for man and beast. They were not to
reach Yorkshire that night, and had
accomplished less than thirty miles
from Manchester.
All night long the rain dashed down.
but at daybreak it ceased. although
the heavy clouds hung low in the sky.
After a good breakfast the two set
out and were not molested or Ques-
toned as they passed from under the
shadow of the castle at Clitheroe.
(To be Continued.)