Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-11-11

cade he was in position to cover Ar
mitages advance, and Oscar mean
while had taken his cue from 4Armitage
and ridden slowly into the field from
the left. The men behind the cedars
fired now from within the Enclosure at
both men without exposing themselves,
but their shots few wild, and the two
horsemen rode up to Claiborne, who
had emptied his rifle into the cedars
and was reloading.
"They are all together again, are
they?" asked Armitage, pausing few
yards from Claiborne's rock, his eyes
upon the barricade.
"The gentleman with the curly hair
II drove him in. He is poor shot
yes?"
Oscar frightened his belt and waited
for orders, while Armitage and Clai
borne conferred in quick pointed SEN
fences.
"Shall we risk rush or starve them
out? I'd like to try hunger on Them"
said Armitage.
They'll all sneak off over the bridge
tonight ii we pen them up. If they all
go at once they'll break it down, and
Wen lose our quarry. But you want
to capture thenl-alive?"
II certainly dog Armitage replied
and turned TO laugh at Oscar, who had
fired at the barlidade from the back of
his horse which was resenting the in
dignity by trying to throw his rider.
The enemy now concentrated a sharp
fire upon Arnitage, whose horse snort.
ed and paved the ground as the balls
cut the air and earth.
"For Gods sake get off that horse,
Armitage!" bawled out Claiborne, ris-
ing upon the rock. There's no use in
wasting yourself that way"
"Aiy arm aches and I've got to do
something. Let's try storming them,
just for fun. It's cavalry stunt, Clai-
borne, and you can play being the artil
lery that's supporting our advance
Fall away there, Oscar, about forty
yards, and We'll race for it to the wall
and over. That bnrricade isn't as stiff
as it looks from this side. know all
abclt it. There are great chunks out
of 1t that can't be seen from this side"
'"Tllank me for that. Armitage.
tumbled down Il good many yards of
1t when | played up here as kid.
Get off that horse. Z tell you! You've
got n hole in you now. Get down.
you make me tired. Claiborne. This
beautiful row will all be over in few
minutes. never intended to waste
much time on those fellows when !
got them where wanted them"
His left arm hung quite limp at his
side, and his face was very white He
had dropped his rifle i'll the road at the
moment the ball struck his shoulder,
but he stfh carried his revolver. He
nodded to Oscar. and they both gal
loped forward over the open ground,
making straight for the cedar covert.
Claiborne was instantly up and
away between the two riders. Their
bold advance evidently surprised the
trio beyond the bnIricade, who shouted
hurried commands TO one another as
they distributed themselves along the
wall and awaited the onslaught. Then
they grew still and lay low out of
sight as the silent riders approached.
The hoofs of the onrushing horses
rang now and then on the harsh out
cropping rock and here and there
struck fire. Armitage sat erect and
steady in his saddle, his horse speed
ing on in great bounds toward the bar
ricade. His lips moved in curious
CT I,,
muttering:
For Austria. For AUSTRIA! He
babe Inc do something for the empire!'
Beyond the cedals the trio held their
fire, watching with fascinated eyes the
two riders. every instant drawing clos
err, and the runner who followed them.
"They can't jump this! They'll veer
off before they get here!" shouted
Chauvenet to his comrades. wait
till they check their horses for the
turn
I'VE are fools. They have got us
trapped" And Durand's hands shook
as lie restlessly fingered Il revolver.
The big Servian crouched on his knees
near by, his finger on the trigger of
his rifle. All three were hatless and
unkempt. The wound in Zmai's scalp
had broken out afresh, and he had
twisted a colored handkerchief about it
to stay the bleeding. a hundred yards
away the waterfall splashed down the
detile, and Its faint murmur reached
them. A wild dove rose ahead of Ar
mitage and flew straight before him
over the barricade The silence grew
tense as the horses galloped nearer.
The men behind the cedar lined wall
heard only the hollow thump of hoofs
and Claiboine's voice calling to Armi-
tage and Oscar to warn them of his
whereabouts,