The Washington herald., 1909-04-29

cdSS-
The band BUSTED in action. Some ripped
! the coach uphOlstering for possibly con-
cealed valuabIes; others overhauled the
I horses. and the dead man The coach
vas dragged into the middle Of the road
and down a few PAGES TO a more open
SPOT.
Mind the trees.'' cried the man on the
/ horse.
Tinder and branches were heaped be
meath the coach, and ia a moment the
smoke cUTied upward
That win do. Interrupted the horse
man. You. Fritz. the Cricket. and
Jasper. bring those three people and come
with me. The two men can walk: the
| lady can stride my horse which viii be
proud or the favor, I am sure. The rest
Of you take the other horses and your
selves and be of. The meeting place Is
you know where"
He slid to the ground. as likewise did
his companion. designated the Cricket.
Come" bsde one Of the men-he Of
the faded green, Fritz - advancing and
elapping the fool on the shoulder.
The fool arose.
Come. he said in turn TO the queen;
and he assisted her 20 her feet she
gathered her domino about her and tinid-
" stood The fool picked up his cloak.
upon which ne had been sitting. The king
also arose.
Up with her" prompted Fritz: and
lifting her In his arms he carried her
across and planted her securely in the
deep Spanish saddle.
BY jude" exclaimed the king. lnlckly.
the red suTging into cheeks and brow as
he strobe forward
The fool sprang quickly as If 20 inter
pose; but Fritz only laughed mischievous-
iy. and seizing the horse by the bride
conducted the animal in through the trees.
The queen. clUtching the saddle with both
her hands. looked back in mute terror. and
her two companions promptly followed
The little party. set all in motion. hurried
along the faint path
The Cricket led. SQuare-bOdied. hunch-
backed. dark. and CaS Is apt 10 be the
case with one thus stunted) excessively
hairy. with long hanging arms and splay
feet, twas not difficult 10 see whence his
nickname. Upon his heels trod Fritz, red
faced and IN faded green jacket and rusty
dangling boots. lis arm, patched as 10
the elbow, through the bride Of the horse
behind him. upon the horse the queen,
her white countenance and faXen brown
hair a striking contrast with her black
enshrouding domino; behind the horse.
the fool; behind the fool. the king. be
hind the king. the fellow Jasper. a boy
ish appearing wight, yet not the less,
therefore, a villain; and behind all. as Il
we're driving them, he Of the imperiOus
hawk nose.
The cracking OF the burning coach died
away, smothered by the intervening foI-
sge- The dark green OF the trees closed
down before. behind. above, on either
hand Steadily mounting, the path, with
many a little circuit. led or. and on. and
On On, and on. and on led the Cricket.
his fat outpOinting feet seeming "a cling
Ike the claws Of a beetle. his long arms
clUtching. balancing, supporting. Ike the
arms Of q climbing ape. The queen was
constantly being obliged 70 bend low 70
avoid the Ger familiar branches: catching
at her loose robe, ever and anon thew
tore Il But the pace never slackened
until, turning for the first time, the
Cricket halted and. looking back. sur
veyed them ali with A malicious grin.
Fritz flung himself TO earth for respite:
the fool. beads Of perspiration be6ewing
his large features, and the king. nigh
breathless. throat parched. seated them
selves. as did Jasper; the horse stood
with sides heaving beneath the white
faced queen; only the Cricket and hawk
nose, vanguard and rear guard, waited
unaffected, disdainiBg ease
Majestic, its sOmber shade sometimes
cut by shafts OF yellow sun. solemn. ap-
parently limitless. lay around about them
the engulfng forest The great red trunks
OF the spruces and the slender trunks
Of the pines lowered far elcft. OF else.
hErH e-a aLe-a -r-f4l -
brushed the slope The essence Of oozing
rosin permeated the warm, still air. The
silence. despite the occasional brisk chat
ter Of calling birds. was fntense-so Insig-
uifcant were the sounds amid such a
brooding immensity.
Up" commanded hawk-nose-
Instantly the Cricket started. Without
ceremony the party was forced onward
again
The path separated, dividing fanIike.
into q dozen other paths. perpiexing d.
vergent Unhesitating. the Cricket chose.
and the file followed after. The new
path bore or obliQUely: the other paths.
on right and left, speedily were lost. With
enormous strides. sprawling over the
ground Ike some gigantic tWo-legged
Jarantula- the Cricket pushed reientIessIy
ahead, over rise and decline and rise
again. into hollow and out. minding not
how Jared the followers, his energy as
pr0digiOus as IL wes merciless
The way continued 10 ascend: 4 few
eedaTs could be noted. The path divided
again, and yet again; wherever the rem
devious, It was cUnningly protected. The
fool often shifted HIS cloak from arm 10
arm. and thence 10 shoulder. II was be
coming burden The kings breath
passed n and out with a wheeze through
his dry throat The horse stumbled and
snorted his disapproval Of the steady ex-
eriion-
Another step and III burst, grunted
Fritz, IN grumhli1g protest. and he ab-
rupuy threw himself down beside the
way
The fool and the king and Jasper behind
sank with one mutual sigh Of relief Tie
Cricket stopped and grinned upon them.
and hawknose stood. impatient, ike 2
sentinel, in the rear.
Up he spske, presently.
The march was resumed. The cedars
bushy and low, waxed more numerous.
and the spTuceS were not 50 large. The
ground was covered with a running vine
the Stecsin arbutus, which grows AZ ~
attitude of not less than eight thousand
feet
The trail was exceedingly obscure: fre-
quently il left no trace; but the Cricket.
bearing of at an acute angie. unerringlv
struck right. at the far side marge-
Suddenly, in a little park. OF clearing.
amid the trees. he paused and waved his
hat thrice. as if in signal 10 eyes IN
seen.
He proceeded. Twice the trail crossed
a shallow, dashing stream. the water
thereof icy cold. boulder strewn. The
last ford was half an hour behind. when
without premOnitOry sign athwart the
way opened a gorge. grim. sheer uncom-
promising. its cleft lips stretching Upan
either hand az far as could be made out. (
but spanned al this single point by a
narrow bridge Of two trees felIed. laid