The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-04-20
CHAPTER xxII.-tcontinued.,

ncr waving on the crest OF the road. aud
gatherd about IL the vanguard OF the
troop--some score OF Dragons; and
these. having caught sight OF US. were
causing a moment TO watch.
The shout presently was followd by
another; TO which made no answer. but
held on my way, with the nose OF Delia's
horse now level with my stirrup: for
guessed that my dress had already be-
:rayed Us. And this was the case: for
at the next glance saw Eve or six dra-
goons detach themselves from tho main
body, and gallop In n directio2 at an
acute angle TO ours. On they came. yell
linz to US to halt. and scattering over the
moor to intercept Us.
Not choosing. however. 20 he driven
eastward. kept straight course and
trusted to our horses ncctness TO carry rs
by them, out OF reach OF their shot In
the pause OF their first surprise we had
stolen two hundred yards more. I count
ed and found eight men thus in pursuit
OF us; and to my Joy heard the bugle
blown again. and saw the rest OF the
troop move steadily along the road with
out intention 20 follow. Doubtless the
news OF the Cornish success made them
wary OF their good order
Still. eight men were enough 10 run
from: and now the nearest let Us with
his plecc-more 10 brighten Us. belize.
than wnh any other view, for we were
far out Of range. But Il grew clear that
IL We held on our direction they must cut
US of.
Only now with good hope | saw a hill
tgin nRH IalT 4. Ia. .r1
what to the right OF our course. and.
thought |, III we can gain the hollow 10
the left OF Il, and put the hill between
Us. they must ride over IL. or round-in
either case losing much time" SO, point.
ing this out TO Della, who rode on my
left. drove my spurs deep aud called
10 Molly to make her best pace.
The enemy divin'd our purpose; and In
q minute twas a desperate race for the
entrance TO the hollow. but our horses
were the faster, and we the lighter rid.
ers: 30 that We won. with thirty yards
TO spare. from the foremost--not without
damage. however, for, finding himself
baked. he sent bullet at us which near.
~ cut through my rein. 40 that my birdie
was henccforward uscle and l could
guide Molly with knee aud voice alone.
Down the hollow we raced. with three
Dragons at our heels. the rest going
round the hill. But they did little good
by so doing. for after the hollow came
n broad. dismal sheet Of water. about
mile round and bank'd with black peat
Galloping along the left shore OF this.
We cut them OF by near half mile but
the three behind followed doggedly.
ia. =.
Beyond the pool came a green valley.
and stream flowing down IL. which we
jump'd easily. CHANGING at Della ms she
landed on the further side. I noted that
her checks were glowing aud her brimful
OF mirih.
Say. Jack" she cried. lis not this bet
ter than love or women
I'm heavens name" called out.
take care-'
But twas too late. The green valley
here melted into n trcacherous hog. in
the which her bay was already plunging
over his fetlocks and every moment sink.
ing deeper.
Throw me the REIN I shouted. and.
catching the bride close by the bit.
leand over aud tried tn drag the horse
forward. by this Molly also was over
hoofs In liquid mud. For a minute and
more we hcav'd and splnshcd. and all the
while the dragons. seeing our fix. were
shouting and drawing nearer and nearer.
But just as brace OF bullets splashcd
into the slough at our feet we STAGGERED
10 the harder slope and were gaining OH
them again. So for twenty minutes along
the spurs Of the hills we held on. the
enemy falling back aud hidden. every
now and again. In the hollows--but al.
ways following; ut the end III which time
Della call'd from just behind me:
Jack. here's a TODD; the bay Is going
lame"'
There was no doubt OF II. suppose
he must have wrung his off hind leg in
lighting through the qung. Any way.
'en minutes more would see the end OF
his gallop. But NJ this moment we had
won to the top OF s,iff ascent. and now.
looking down at our feet, ! had the JOY.
fullest surprise.
Twas the moor Of Temple spread be.
low like n map, the low sun striking on
the ruin'd huts to the left OF us. on the
roof OF Joan's cottage. on the scar Of
the high road and the sides OF the tai!
tor above IL.
"In ten minutes" said I, I'VE may be
safe"
So down into the plain we hurried and
thought for the first time OF the loyal
girl waiting In the cottage yonder, OF my
former ride into Temple. and OF the
light heart with which left Il.
Past the peat-ricks We struggled. the
shecp-cotcs. the struggling fcnces---all 80
familiar: crossd the stream and rode into
the yard.
Jump down." ! WHISPERED: Eve have
time. aud no more" CHANGING hack.
Jaw a couple of dragons already coming
over The hcisbts. They had spied US.
DiSmounting. | ran 10 the cottage door
and flung IL open. \ stream OF light.
flung back against the sun. blazed into
my eyes.
/ rubbed them and halted for a mo
ment stock-still.
For Joan stood in front OF mc. dressed
in the very clothes ! had worn on the
day we irst mct--buff-, coat. heavy
boots and all. Her back was toward
me. and az the shoulder, where the coat
had been cut away from my wound,
saw the rents all darncd and patched
with pack thread. In her hand was the
mirror had given her.
At the sound OF my step on the thresh-