New-York tribune., 1908-07-26
tom HUNGERFORD

felt among the contents for our precious bag My
hand came in contact with all manner of things.
There were boxes. bundles, bags, and powder horns
by the score Everything seemed to be IN the chest
but our bag of gold. | almost ready to run
away without it, when my hand found a sack tied
about the neck with a string. 1t much too
small for flour sack; but 1t seemed too large
and heavy for gold bag. However, | grasped
the puckered end lifted it of the chest, slammed
the lid. turned the key gave 1t to Granny, and hur-
ried away as fast my legs would carry me. My
life! but L glad to get out of that front door!
How found way back TO the horse L don
know Fright must have sensitized my instinct. and
| found it, | suppose, lost dog finds ITS way
home without knowing how he does 1t, When
got back where the horse was standing, my teeth
were Chattering TO such extent that | thought l
surely would awaken the entire swamp. My knees
smote together and for a time | had to cling to
the horse for support had used up all the bravery
| had borrowed from the girl and she was not
there to lend
Il have always suffered more or less from cow
arCce; but that | believe, the worst attack
ever had. You see there one 10 see my
weakness, and you have no idea how much the de
sire to show off and the fear of ridicule have to do
with a mans bravery when It comes 70 action.
MANY a man who is a coward at heart will drive
himself do Il brave deed in the presence OF others
That night l was brave only when the girl was by
nv side touch from her hand strengthened my
nerves and in the light of her eyes | would have
fought thousand dragons.
HAD waited perhaps five minutes beside the
horse-and they were long ones, you may be
sure-when | heard the trampng of horses hoots
and the voices of men approaching from the dlrec-
ton of the house. If my knees had shaken and
my teeth had chartered before, imagine, II you can,
the quaking and the clatter that ensued when the
men passed horseback within twenty feet OF me.
.'' Where's Mab?' | heard one of them ask.
49, | reckon she gone ahead, answered another:
A moment later heard the spashlng OF the horses
hoofs in the swamp.
When | saw the pass ahead OF Us, l thought
surely Nab and | were lost, and trembled for Bal
sers safety He would be waiting III the woods
beyond the house near the road. and | feared he
might return 10 the barn when we failed to show
uD The men were now between Baser and me,
and how / was to pass them and reach him | did
not know
While | was wondering and trembling, the girl
came up To me
Wen wait here for a few minutes. and then
follow them she SAID. coming close to me and
whispering.
The first thing did after she came to me was
to borrow some of her ncXhaustibe fund OF bravery.
| negotiated big loan; but she seemed to have all
nf hers left after supplying me. Immediately be
as brave rs a hon feared nothing
Did you get the god? she asked
Yes answered holding the sack out toward
her
You're the bravest boy ever knew, she sad.
and | hope YOU will forgive me for setting The
Wolves on yOu I've done my best to nght the
wrong and when they learn of the trick ! have
played them they will kill me. They won care
So much about the loss of the gold; but, you see
have BETRAYED the secret of their den. They have
killcd three women and one man that know Of