Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17

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towards him, Dan had skipped into the
| thicket, and now | heard him scrambing
| through the bushes. Yelling and whistling as
he went. | was not afraid of him or his
creatures; but did not design to be caught
and so set Calvpsos heels to work.
/ But lust as | did so there came clatter of
i hoofs from the yard near by. and | knew that
| Creech was upon my track Calypso flew for
ward like swallow. and at the same moment
the noise of pistol spread echoes abroad
and bullet shipped corner from my hat
| That was my signal to be gone Come, my
girl says l: and the roam, leaping to the
rowels sped down the narrow pathway:
The track was as lean as gutter. and soped
very sharply: the bushes too pressed hard
| upon it. and twas not the least of my hazards
| to come down that descent at a breakneck
speed. But | knew well enough that the pur-
suit would be instant. and that Creech was in
| too black rage to pick his footsteps. So
| kept the nag to her pace, and on she rushed
| floundering from side to side swaying against
| the bushes, and slithering over the smooth
| rocks. | held her up with the reins and more
| than once saved her from coming down upon
| he prats and once she took me sudden
fell so low that the sight of it set me a-thlnklng
| But ere | was past my doubts we were
| through. and the mare was gathering tor the
high road
twist about in my saddle to inspect what was
| forward. Creech and his men were not vet
| forth of the wood; but l could hear EN-
| pounding away down the path, and guessed
that they were none SO far away. But tor that
| | cared not groat: for Calypso stanch
and fleet, and more than a match tor any
horse in the shires. So, pulling her round
upon the Beburv road, | urged her into a
gentle canteT.
| | reckon that they must ha been amazed
| when they were come to the highway. to see
| me no more than half a mile away and jog
| ging along as easy and unconcerned as you
please. But that in my device. for /
| had no luminosity against such a braggart
| fool as Creech, and. l have said. | was
| tickled by pretty touch of humor. So on
cantered; and Creech and his two lads behind
| me. very much excited, as | conceive. by the
prospect of overtaking me. That. however,
was not my notion; and no sooner were they
drawn within shot than | put the spurs into
Calypso and forged out of range again.
This maneuver repeated several times, till
| their faces must ha been yellow with chagrin.
| If they had entertained but grain of reason
about EN-. they might have seen as was merely
playing with 'em. And maybe they did; but
| Creech had no stomach for defeat, and, being
now a veritable caldron of passions stuck as
close to me as he might. And thus We gal
Hoped. the four of us, at length into Belbury.
HERE / dropped into canter, and coming
- to halt afore little inn in the main street,
l flung out of the saddle and opened the stable
yard. Tothers were not yet round the corner.
and So lettering Calypso to stake in the
| wall Immediately below a window in the up
per floor. | babe the ostler 81 i've her a bite
| where she stood. and hurried into the hosiery.
| / was now, as you may conceive, possessed of
roaring appetite. and ordered breakfast
forthwith to be served in the said upper room.
And no sooner was | got there and set COM
Portable upon a seat, than the three horses
came laundering down the road and drew up
with plunge before the doorway. laughed
at that, for l knew they were too drunken
with rage to think straightly; and had half
mind to invite Danny to breakfast. Sink
me! but the ninnies thought that they had
nicked me! For presently after, up comes the
innkeeper with the breakfast, but bearing
message for me, from three gentlemen below,
as, saving your presence. would be glad for to
breakfast in your company.
Lord! how it set me laughing! why,
says |, If they be honest folk, by all means
They have ridden hard" says he, hesitat-
why, so have L." l answered; and then.
but still with reluctance. he departing,
when l suddenly fetched him back. Has
the coach been long gomez" says 1 for though
twas early knew the next stage was long.
Tis gone half an hour" says he.
THAT is well, l thinks to myself and. dis
missing him with nod, l threw open the
window and looked down into the yard. There
was Calypso, ready bridled, and munching
her oats beneath me. That too contented me.
and | sat down and handled my knife. 1t