Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-11-29

Meanwhile Tom had struck a creek
waded mile In II to destroy the scent
waded within stones throw OF jar.
mans hut. turned tail In panic ana
waded back. and miles farther, IN tne
opposite direction. In the creek a,so
lie slaked Bis thirst and laved MS
wounds, HA had turned his back on
1t when the sun rose. And toward tne
rising sun he ran and ran until there
was great belt Of blue beneath It IN
the sky, then hid for the day In uny
clump Of trees in the midst OF an open
plain. :,
Here he slept for hours, yet dreamed
but one dream--of baying dogs ana
cantering hoofs. When he awoke' the
first sound was actually audible, put
far away and growing fainter 1t pass
ed altogether, and he fell asleep again.
Awaking a second time, he found the
stars back in the sky, but as yet no
moon. And Tom was deadly faint Tor
lack Of food.
Also his wounds were 80 stiff that he
could scarcely stir, every movement
causing him pain. Yet he struggled up
and tottered east, with those I'VE h1eo
stars shining feebly upon his wan
right cheek and haggard profile.
How long this continued Tom could
never tell 1t might have been hours
later or only minutes that seemed IKE
hours when the climax came. ALI ne
ever knew was that his head was by
this time very light, and that the moon
was no higher than the trees when IL
shone upon the stray wether bleatins
piteously In his path, which was 10
stand out terribly In his mind ever
after. Yet up to that moment a forty
hours fast had been broken but once
with sandwiches. 1t was either this or
lingering death.
Tho moon won clear of the trees. 1t
shone into the glutted eyes and on the
blood caked mouth and fingers OF as
desperate and abandoned young con-
Wet az the settlement contained.
He pushed on now with new ana
dreadful energy. He thought he smeit
the sea. The country. however. was
still we'll timbered, and instinctively
rather than with conscious precaution
the fugitive made his line where the
trees were thickest He was now
steering jealousy by the MOON WIN
bis head thrown farther back the high
or II sailed. Thus 1t was that little
later he tripped and staggered without
seeing what 1t was that had caught MS
foot but 1t felt peculiar, and after a
moment he turned round. stood still
and went back.
II was the dead body Of man.
The body had not rag upon II.
Tom knelt to examine 1t by the
Moonlight and q cold thrill ran down
him. which he resented when ne mac
; time to think. 1t showed there was
something human in him yet.
The body was that Of very swarthy
/ mon with wonderful white teeth. upon
which the moon shone and glistened IL
the ghastliest manner. and pierced
ears from which the earrings nae
, been brutality torn, and chapfaliel
i. blue chin. Tom thought the man nae
not been many hours dead. VIVA
. puzzled him was the apparent absence
! of a mortal wound where the otne'
evidences of foul play were 30 gar
} ing When found, however. the woune
itself puzzled him much more. IL wa'
D at the back Of the sunburnt neck ane
!. might have been bullet wound. Du
Tom had never seen one before. no
, would he have expected a bullet u
drill a hole so clean and round.
He now behaved as though ne naS
|. been tripping over murdered men u
|. his life. He had not only recovered
!. his composure; he was able to glory II
II as a sign that his heart was dea'
;. after all and 50 past bleeding for any
L thing or anybody any more. AT I'M
n moment he raised his eyes. ana III
o new found composure was at an end.
A light flashed through the trees INT
" his eyes-a tongue Of fame from SOM
7. campfire.
q Tom listened. No voices reached ni
ears save those Of the nocturnal DUST
The fire was farther Oh than ne ma
Il thought.
He rot ND and first walked, the
r crept toward the light. The colon
IL was infested with bands of bushrahf
L era. What II here were one and tn
Il corpse their handiwork? Now Toi
o thought of It, one particular and mos
y notorious band had been depredatih
this very part of the country ever sine
3 the new year. He had heard enVlou
renorts of the villains In the convict
hints ut Castle Sullivan. and especlaii
had he heard of their terrible ltaiia
1. chief said to be an outlawed brigan
10 come to seek fresh fortunes IN Ne
South Wales. OF the merciless ferocit
Of this free allen the most horriryin
D. storIes were afioat. Yet the worst
these but feebly expressed one WI
Or shot men from behind, stripped the
ID corpses and tore the very rings frol
ot their ears.
10 Tom crept near the fire in persons
1T fright curiously exhilarating IN its u
q tensity. He might almost have been
free man once more, worth roDoin
ID worth numbering for his money. III
y. novel sensation brought back ID
IN mentary Whit Of unconscious self r
III spect. 1t was just the little thoug
~ of having q life worth taking ont
co more, Of being anything to anyboe
to but beaten dog. and 1t came al
went and was forgotten In the san
VI moment
OF The next he was gazing on curio
4 scene, and his fears were also ar