The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-06-18

r 2Sc!t di iiiSA pCtteu voice struck II
"Oh, dear, do not let us run an
more risks" it said. 1t was Mistres
Anne's. She was herself again, tremb
ling, excited, bright eyed, as differen
as posi- le from the Anne of a fey
minutes before. A great change ha'
come over her. Perhaps the warmt.
had lone it.
A third course was suggested-t,
stay quietly where we We're. The farm
house stood at some little distanc
from the road, and though it was rougl
1T was very rough, consisting onl.
OF two rooms. in n of which n GOV
was s~talled-still 1t could furnish foo
and shelter. Why not stay there
But the duchess wisely, 1 think, de
cfded against this. 1T is unpleasant t.
go wandering again." she said with
shiver. But I shall not rest until W.
are within the walls of a town. Maste
~Lindstrom laid so much stress on that
And l fancy that the party who over
took US last night are not the mai1
party. Others will have gone to Wese
by boat perhaps or along the Other
bank. There they will will meet, anc
learning we have not arrived they viii
probably return this way and search
for u.s."
Yes, If we have Clarence to dea
with" Master BERTHE assented gravely
we cannot afford to lose a point. We
Will try the ferry"
1t was something gained to start
dry and warm, but the women's pale
faces-for little by little the fatigue
the want of rest, the fear, were tell
ing even on the duchess-were sad
to see, 1 was sore and stiff myself
The wound L had received so mys-
~teriously had bled afresh, probably
during last nights fight. We needed
all our courage to put a brave face
on the matter and bear up and go out
again into the air, which for the first
Meek IN May was cold n nipping.
suspense and anxiety had told in var
lous ways on all Of us. While l felt
q nerce anger against those who We're
irving us to these straits, Master Ber-
tie was erVou and excited, alarmed
for his wife and child and inclined to
see an enemy In every bush.
However, we cheered IN a LITTLE
the boat could cross without much
FISK. We had to go over in two de-
tachments, and it was nearly an hour.
past noon when we all stood on the
farther bank and babe farewell to
the honest soul whose help had been
OF SO fnuch Importance to us. He told
US we had three leagues to go, and
we hoped to be at rest in Santon by
4 o'clock. "
h three leagues turned out to be
more nearly five, while the road was
so founderous that we had again and
again to quit it.
The evening came on, the light
waned. and still we were feeling our
way, SO to speak-the women tired
ana on the verge of tears, the men
muddy to the waist. savage and impa-
tient. 1t was 5 o'clock and dusk was
well upon us before we caught sight of
the first lights of Santon, and In fear
ieSt the cataS fpiohf no cl,4
FORWARD at such speed as our horses
could
do you go ont" the duchess adiured
us. Anne and I will be safe enough
behind you. Let me take the child and
40 you ride on. We mo pass the
night in the fields"
Inc Importance of securing admission
was SO great that Master BERTHE and r
agreed and cantered on, soon outstrip-
ping our companions, and almost. in the
gloom. losing sight of them, Dark
masses of woods. the last remnants
apparently of a forest, lay about the
road we had to traverse. We were
snort of the town. and I was turning
IN .he saddle to see that the ladies' were
following safely, when I heard Master
Bertie, who was a bowshot in front Of
me, Civ a sudden cry.
wheeled round hastily to learn the
iSe'ooti VIZ was just IN time to see
three horsemen sweep into the road be-
Tore h1m from the cover of the trees.
Ihey were SO close to him-and thew
niled the road-that his horse ga rried
nm anon them almost before he
could check it. or SO 1t seemed to me
l heard their loud challenge. saw HIS
arm wave n guessed that his sword
was out. l spurred desperately to 1o1n
him., giving a wild shout of enco1ra 90
ment as ! did SO. But before T co,,ld
come up, or indeed cross half the dis
lance, the scuff1e was over. One man
fell headlong from his saddle, one horse
ned rfderless down the road. and at
of this. or perhaps of me. the
Others turned tail without more ado
and made off, leaving Master Rertie
IN possession of the field. The whole
thing had passed in the shadow of the
wood In less than half a minute When
! drew rein by him. ne was sheathinr
ei'eu'
mo, no., 1 did not see him. r tbin,,
ne answered. He was breathing
hard and was very much excited ..Tbav
were poor swordsmen, for Spaniards ;,
ne added-'very poor, I thought
1 jumped off my horse and knee1;np
beside the man., turned him over. He
was badly hurt, if not dying, cut across
the neck. We looked hard at him h,, !
such llght as there was and did nnt
recognize him as one of our assaIlants
of the night before.
Il do not think he is a Spantard.
slowly. Then a certain suspicion
occurred to my mind. and I stooped
lower over him.
Continued Mex. Week,