Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-05-27
THE SPLENDID SPUR
THE ADVENTURES OF JACK MARVEL.
by ARTHUR +. oUILLER COUCH.
W ~
by ARTHUR T. CUTLER COUCH.

and scattering over the moor TO in /
tercept Us.
Not choosing. however. TO be driven /
eastward. kept straight course. and /
trusted 70 our horses neetness 70 carry !
us by them. out OF reach OF their shot.
In the pause OF their first surprise we
had stolen two hundred yards more. 1
counted and found eight men In pur-
suit OF us: aud. 20 my JOY. heard the
bugle blown again. and saw the rest
OF The troop. now gathering fast above.
move steadily along the road without
intention TO follow. Doubtless the
news OF the Cornish success made
them wary OF their good order.
Still. eight men were enough 70 run
froms and now the nearest let fly with
his piece-more 10 brighten US. belize
than with any other view. for we were
far out OF range. But it grew clear
that II we held on cur direction they
must cut us OF.
Only now with good hope I saw a Hill
rising not half n mile in front. and
somewhat 20 the right OF our course.
and. thought I. "if we can gain the
hollow to the left of il. and put the
hill between as. they must ride over
+ Il or round-in either case losing much
time" So. pointing this out 20 Della.
who rode on my left Go leave my pis-
tol arm free and at the same time be
screened by me from shot Of the dra-
goon9 7 drove my spurs deep and
called 20 Molly TO make her best pace.
The enemy OWNED our purpose; and
iu q minute twas a desperate race for
the entrance TO the hollow. But our
horses were the faster. and we the
lighter riders, so that we won. with
thirty yards 10 spare. from the fore
most-nOt without damage. however.
for. finding himself baked. he sent n
bullet at US which neatly cut through
my rein. so that my bride was hence
forward useless. and I could guide
Molly with knee and voice alone.
Dc4ia's bay had shied at the sound OK
e. and likely enough saved my mis-
tress's life by this. for the bullet passed
, within n foot before her.
, Down the hollow we raced. with
three Dragons Mt our heels. the rest
going round the hin. But they did
little good by SO doing. for after tho
hollow came broad. dismal sheet of
=, water. about mile round and banked
/, with black peat. GGlloping along th'
. left shore OF this. we cut them on log
: near half a mile. But the three be
hind folioved doggedly, though drop
q ping hack with every stride.
q Beyond the pool came green valley
!, and stream lowing down it. whici
we jumped easily. CHANGING az Dcli'
h. as she landed on the further side.
noted that her checks were glowing
. and herself brlmful OF mirth.
: "Say. Jack" she cried. lis not thi
\ better than love OF women
- "In heavens name" 1 called on
- take care"
m But twas too late. The green vale
n here melted into a treachorous bog.
- which her bay was already plunGin
,e over his fetlocks and every momer
Is sinking deeper.
e Throw me the relnw shouted, an,
4; catching the bride close by the bi
no leaned over and tried 20 drag the hors
forward by this Molly also was owe
a hoofs in liquid mud. For n minute an
" more we heaved and splashed, and a
"a the wbile the Dragons. seeing our d
re- were shouting and drawing nearer an
n nearer. But just as brace OF bulle
rs splashed into the slough at our feet "
~ staggered to the harder slope and WEI
la gaining on them again. SO for twen'
minutes along the spurs OF the hills v
=. held on. the enemy falling back an
re hidden. every now and again. in y
be hollows-but always following; ar q
Il enI Of which time Della called fro
IS just behind me:
III "Jacb. here's q TODD; the bay is goiI
IN lame"
There was no doubt OF II. I suppO
ok he must have wrung his OF hind leg
tn, fighting through Quag Any way. L
nd minutes more would see the end Of
lis gallon. But ar this moment we h.
.er won to the top of a stin ascent. al
Int. now. looking down AT our feet, l b.
re the joyfuleSt surprise.
nd Twas the moore OF Temple spre
his below like map. the low sun str
Eat ing on the ruined huts TO the left
us. on the roof OF jeans cottage.
me the scar OF the high road and the sid
US. OF the tall tor above It,
o. In ten minutes" said /, Eve may
ms safe"
eir So down into the plain we hurris
inS and thought for the first time Of
, loyal girl waiting in the cottage -
ma der OF my former ride into Temp
and with angry shame) OF the liz
he'd heart with which left II.
oss Past the peat ricks we struggled
ose sheep cotes. the struggling fences
80 fapo5lior. crossed the stream a