Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-05-31

from, and stood motionless. pulled
my stake and made for them on the
run. should have known better,
for the sight of me would have tried
the legs OF the best trooper that ever
sat in saddle. As they told me after
ward,s it was enough to make q lion
yelp.
"Holy Mother!" said one, as they
broke through the bush, running for
their lives. I knew not their names,
but I called them as loudly as dared.
They went on, never Stacking pace. It
was a bad go, for was burning for
news of D'ri and the rest of them.
Now could hear some heavy animal
bounding in the brush as if their run
ming had startled him. went back to
the corn for another stand. Suddenly
horse came up near me, cropping the
brush. I saw he was one off the boat,
for he had bride and saddle, a rein
hanging in two strings, and was badly
cut. My friend! the sight of horse
did warm me to the toes. He got
taste OF the tender corn presently, and
came toward me as he ate. In a mo-
ment l jumped to the saddle, and he
went away leaping like a wild deer.
He could not have been more fright
ened if had dropped ON him out of
the sky. l never saw such energy in
flesh and blood before. He took
mighty fright as my hand went to his
withers, but the other had a grip on
the pommel, and I made the stirrups.
l. leaned for the strings of the reign.
but his neck was long, and could not
reach them. Before knew it we were
tearing over hill at merry pace,
| can tell you. was never so put to
it for the right thing to do, but I
chung on. The big hat shook down
upon my collar. In all my life had
never saw a hat so big. Through the
break in 1t I could see a farmhouse.
In a jitfy the horse had cleared a
fence, and was running, with the feet
OF terror, in a dusty road. I grew an
cry at myself as we tore along-I
knew not why. It was a rage of dis
comfort, fancy, for somehow, I never
felt SO bounded and cluttered, so up in
the air and out of place in my body.
The saber was working loose and
hammering my knee; the big hat was
rubbing my nose, the straw chatting
my chin. I had something under my
arm that would sway and whack the
side Of the horse every leap he made.
l bore upon it hard, as If it were the
inw01 IF
and what it might be. In a moment
the big hole of my hat came into con-
junction with my right eye.- On my
word, it was the stake! How it came
there have never known, but, for
some reason held to it. looked
neither to right nor left, but sat eract,
one hand on the hilt of my saber, the
other in the name of the horse, know
ing full we'll l was the most hideous-
looking creature in the world. If I
had come to the gate of heaven I be-
lieve St. Peter would have dropped
his keys. The straw worked up, and
a great wad Of it hung under my chin
like a bushy beard. would have CIV
en- anything for a sight of myself, and
laughed to think of it, although fac
ing a deadly" peril, as I knew. But,
was young and had no fear in me
those days. Would that man could
have his youth on his death-bcd! 1t
was leap in the dark, but I was
ready to take my chances.
Evidently was nearing a village.
Groups of men were in the shady
thoroughfare;. children thronged the
dooryards. There was every sign of a
holiday. AS we neared them I caught
my saber under my knee, and drew
my hands into the long sleeves and
waved them wildly, whooping like an
Indian. They ran back to the fences
with start of fear. AS I passed them
they cheered loudly, waving their hats
and roaring with laughter. An old
horse, standing before an inn, broke
his halter and crashed over fence.
A scared dog ran for his life in front
of me, yelping as he leaped over a
stone wall. Geese and turkeys flew in
the air as neared them. The people
had seemed to take me for. some vii
lage youth on a masquerade. We
flashed into the open country before
the sound of cheering had died away.
On we weEA over a long strip of hard
soil, between fields, and off in the
shade Of thick forest. My horse be-
gan to tire. I tried to calm
him by gentle words, but
could give him no confidence in me.
He kept on. laboring hard and
breathing heavily, as II I: were q toms
weight. We came to another clearing
and fields of corn. A little out of the
woods, and near the road, was a log
house white-washed from earth to
caves. BY the gate my horse went
down. tumbled heavily in the road,
and turning, caught him by the bits.
The big hat had shot of my head; the
straw had fallen away. Aw6man came
running out Of the open door. She had
bare feet, 9 plump and CHEEKY face.
''Tonnerre!" said she. "Qu'est &c que
celia - :: =, y: @ -
my: countrywoman,'' said 1, in
French, feeling in my under-trousera
for a bit Of silver, and tossing 1t ia
her,"I am hungry s.: TX,
"And I. have no food to SELL" said
she, tossing It back. on should know
| am Of France and not of England.
Come, you shall have enough, and lo1
no. price bit the eating. You have q
tired horse. Take him to the stable
and will make you q meal. ' X z5 s..
! .5t5 TO BE Continued,