Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-31
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early in the morning, but had been hastily summoned back into the GWent after breakfast He had, my inform ant imagined, crossed Us, but ac- counted for not meeting him hy the new route we had taken. Therefore, none the wiser for our cXcursion, we turned the horses homeWard and, climbing the rise beyond the river, clattered down into the forest.
 We had ridden halfway to Llanellan when Mont lgomery's mare fell lame. and he dismounted to examine her shoe AS he WAS engaged for some time in the occupation, pulled my nag into the shade of the big trees by the way and waited for him. Throwing myself off, put my arm through tic bridle and walked over to the margin Of the wood, where the grass grew in abundance, now fading q drab yellow under the ma gnifcence of the autumn sun. The road here took a sharp bend and in the act an ab.Cpt peninsula or headland of coppca stood out from the main continent of forest. As my horse nibbled at the grass, heard q noise of
  through the tangle along the highway. Down from Llanellan trap was be- ing driven furiously toward us. The rate at which it rolled was prodigious, and clouds of dust flew up and en- veloped horse vehicle and driver in their course. Thinking that this must be runaway, slipped the bridle over the horses neck, and, calling to Mont gomery, leaped into the saddle and turned the corner to meet it. AS I did so the carriage which was of rude seryiceable type common in the coun- try, was plainly visible to me and 1 to it's occupant. What astounded me was to see him raising his whip through the smoke of dust, in act to strike fercely at the Hanks of the animal, and the next second he stopped, dropped the whip, and as it seemed to me, refined in his horse. At all events, the pace was now much slower-in fact, but comfortable amble. While 1 was won- dering on this curious maneuver the trap drew near enough for me to notice tue driver, and, to my astonishment, 1 saw that it was Hood.
 His face was all q sweat and grimed with dust, and plainly he had been squeezing the last ounce out of his beast, as the saying is. Why, faeA, did he pull up oa seeing me? \ flow of thoush:s rushed through ny i)ra.ii, but it was not .:ntii Ike cane vel ni sll abreast of me tAa, tue ins'slr tiuA seized me. He made ns if to pass. civilly touching his hat, but ly a sud den movement I wheeled ny horse across the road and barred h:s way. Had he been going a his previous rate I confess that l should have thought twice ere l took this hazard; but, as it was, there was no harm done. Hood himself, taken by surprise, pulled back and jerked his left rein, sending the beast toward the ditch. cried to Montgomery and, leaning over, caught at the rens.
 'Its all up, Hood," I said "You're a done man this time"
 Beg your pardon, sir," said be- star ing at me But was going to Ray mond."
 "Yes, and dare say you were,' said
  tle."
 At that moment Montgomery came up, leading his mare, and took in the situation. Running round, he held the other rein. Hood looked from one to the other
 ''This Is highway robbery, gentle men," he said.
 .hat I with nonchalance. Montgomery, I'll trouble you to peep into that carriage" /" At the words Hoods eyes shot with a malignant light, and his nostrils curled and shivered like those of a vicious horse The next second he sprang from his seat across the horses back and leaped at my throat with his open knife. My horse plunged and took the blow upon his shoulder, which was rip ped open in a red gash. Then, without a sound. Montgomery pinned the ruff fan to the earth. It was not the first time that he had felt the grip of those great arms, and he lay still underioot ill the dust.
 We had been so engrossed With the incident that We had not noticed the sound of an approaching horseman, and now his voice broke in upon LIS. startling Us.
 '.rhank you kindly, gentlemen. am obliged to you, it said. and there was Sercombe, very red and very dusty, but with a tWmkiing smile strugglinG over grave and anxious face. Hood got to his feet at once.
 "rhe rascal gave me the slip said Sereombc, but am much in your debt for stopping him."
 "Ah!!9 said l. @.GAat's the story, is it."
 It is extremely eda, and recall the fact now with some s2nse of disayE fture. but this sa3tten appearance ' Sereeai0o .,;si4s sae evidence taat ne aH1 been chasing Food completely p0g t. raefaUire on}. Ihe erort@ .15 things ton-y trey fer 5he time. ze.