Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
By Arthur w. Marchmont,
Author of
"A Dash for a Throne"

| unless I was to make a bolt clean out o.
the country my only safe place was or
the island. l must trust that Beltant
would be able to make his words good
that his friends would get into power anC
the hunt for me be abandoned.
! l have no hesitation in saying that
felt profoundly ill at ease as turned into
the now deserted street and hurried of
to the spot where had left my horse.
! was suspicious of every dark spot anC
| when once or twice loterer passed me
1 held myself in readiness for trouble.
When l was once more in the saddle
breathed more easily. ] started at
! leisurely pace feeling that l had better
| spare my horse all l could so that he
! should be as fresh as possible if l were
pursued. ! rsckoned that | had quite ter
miles to cover before reaching Solferino's
| and any moment might find the police al
my heels.
| Fortunately the road was easy. l had
carefully observed every turn and twist
and had noted certain landmarks to guide
! me on my return ride. / had thus but
| little difficulty in finding my way. and
when | had ridden some half of the dis
! tance | began to hope that | should get
| through without trouble. This confidence
strengthened with every yard. and L was
| breathing my horse up slight hill when
| l heard horses hoofs ahead and the jan
! gle of accOuterments.
BY good fortune there were some bushes
/ by the side of the road. and dismounted
! and led my horse behind them. l stood
/ by his head. stroking him gently. as the
men came riding leisurely in my dlrec-
J ton.
1t a police patrol sure enough. |
caught a fragment or two of their talk. l
heard the name of Serrano, uttered with
curses at their luck in having to search
| for me- and a reference to information
| having been given that | was in the dis
| trict.
AS they came nearer my horse began
! to grow restless. and | expected every in
slant that he would neigh to the other
/ animals and so betray my presence. i
! laid my cheek to his nose to quiet him,
/ holding my own breath as the men came
opposite to the spot where l stood. paused
| while one of them lighted cigarette,
/ and then passed.
But they were not a hundred yards
down the hill before my horse drew his
head from my grasp and snorted loudly.
What was that?" / heard one of them
ask
| did not wait for any more. In a
second | was in the saddle and made of
up the hill at gallop.
A voice called to me to stop, and when
l took no notice a couple of shots were
fired and the men turned and came thun-
dering in pursuit. 1t was a stern chase,
but l held them easily and at first in
creased the distance between us. But my
animal was not of much account and. al
though faster than theirs had no staying
power, and when / was about a mile
from Solferino's I found to my dsmay
! that his strength was giving out and
that my pursuerS were making up fast
upon me.
1 had no spurs and. although I dug my
heels almost viciously into his sides.
could not get any better speed out or
him.
l began to give up hope. Even if | could
succeed in keeping ahead of the patrol to
Solferino's. they would be too close upon
my heels to make it possible for me to
get to the boat. before they caught me. /
recalled, too, that they had spoken of
having had information of my move
ments. and with something like touch
of panic. 1 reflected that in all probability
they knew the place for which l was
making and would have left some one
there to intercept me.
Then plan occurred to me. l remem-
bered that the road by which we had ap-
preached Solferino's on the night of vi
cino's death branched away to the left:
| Urging my horse to a last effort i spurted
| forward and. when 1 came to it. sprang
to the ground, sent him galloping on and
lay down on the ground. On reaching
the turning my pursuerS drew rein 10
listen and then spurred after my horse.
The instant they had passed | ran at
top speed in the direction of the beach.
If the ruse succeeded 1 could get to the
boat and be- off before they could over
take me. and l strained every effort in
the race.
/ slowed down as reached Solferino' 8
house, and crept past it stealthily. lest
a guard should be waiting for me there.
But all was dark and silent. and quick
ened up again and descended the path to
the beach as quickly as safety allowed.
Who goes there?' came voice out of
the darkness, and led by the sound l saw
man standing on the landing stage, by
the side of the felucca.
Capt Murito," replied, instantly imi-
| fofir ho of a /
! Have you seen anything?'
Nothing. captain"
! Almost as he spoke the report of some
| guns rang out. loud andssharp in the still
sound of horses hoofs approaching at the
gallop.
! The luck had turned with a vengeance.
| l was caught like "a rat in a corner