Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-06-24
THE END Of A
PERILOUS RIDE.
CourtShip In the Saddle to the
Music of Flying Bullets.
BY MARTHA Mc.-wILLlAMs.
ICopynght. Is1. by Martha McCunoch-
Williams


Maryland My Maryland" which she
loved best of all the war songs. Her
UNFRAMED voice was so rich and true Ii
carried half across the bush pasture.
She had stolen there with salt for the
young horses grazing for safety amid
the intricate thickets. They had had
hone for month. In the third year
of the civil war, TO man and beast
alike, salt WAS almost luxury
throughout middle Tennessee. The
whole region was debatable land. The
bluecoats held the railway towns and
turned them into fOrtresses more or
less secure. over the wide green coun-
try road about gray horsemen rode
and raidud almost at pleasure. Thus
salt was among the things reckoned
"contrahand of war; and TO be bought
only in such niggard quantities as were
marked upon the permits from head
quarters.
Between bluecOats and gray, horses
had come to he the most uncertain of
all possessions. Esther sang because
she dared not whistle the regular horse
call. She knew Princess, her own
mare, would come at sound of her
voice and most likely bring the herd
pellmell at her heels, since she was
easily its queen. She was also thor
oughbrcd. Jet black, the last fOal of a
dam never beaten at four miles. Prin-
cess was five years old, Esther seven
teen. They had grown up playmates
and comrades, each full of tricks and
delight in the other.
Esther need not have sung. Her
foot was scarcely off the rail fence
when Princess came charging, mouth
slightly Open ears batted. Five yards
off her mistress she stopped short,
drooped her head, half wheeled and
sided gently until her withers lay I'M
der Esther'S hand.
Incautiously she thrust her hand
within her huddlcd apron and brought
up some salt grains upon her open
palm. Princess licked them savagely.
thrust her head fercely against Esther's
breast and made as if to paw her with
on angry hOof.
Princess truly loved her mistress,
but she was mad with salt hunger. al
most the strongest known to the
beasts of the field. She caught the
apron folds and ESthers left hand be-
tween her teeth and backed, rearing
slightly and paving, not viciously. but
with light Ticking hoofs. To save her
self Esther flung her free arm about
the mares neck and swung clear of
the ground, saying sternly: "Ho, Prin-
cess, Stand! Let go!"
Princess kept backing and paving
The herd caught the sound and came
rushing. She wheeled to meet the
rush, with Esther still swinging, and
let fly at her mates with both heels
In the shock of impact her teeth shut
cruelty upon Esther's hand, but still
the girl did not cry out.
She hung facing the mare, so saw
nothing else until muscular fingers
locked themselves in Princess fore
top and gripped her nostrils hard. In
stantly her mouth flew open Esther
snatched away. her hand and dropped
to earth. For breath she stood 81
lent, then said, with a stamp Of heI
foot, "princess, l never thought you
could be so mean"
aren't you yourself to blame?
Princess captor said. He was tall
we'll made fellow, with soldierly
air for all his citizens coat, a pair OF
keen gray eyes set in a brown face
and the dust of hard riding all ovel
him. GIVE the Salt-at once" Esther
obeyed in silence. Neither spoke agaiI
until the last grain had been licked VI
and the beasts were biting the eartt
where it had lain. Then it was Esther
who asked a question. How does Il
happen you are here?"
81 came for a horse and crept gu
of hiding to listen to song" the mai
said, smiling. 1.-THE song assures me
may tell you | am John Sanford,
scout for Forrest-in plain words,
spy. At daylight this morning ! foun'
out something my general ought t.
know at once. Since then | have rid
den my horse down. The poor beas
is lying by the thicket yonder. mus
have something in his stead-some
thing that can go like the wind"
you shall not have Princess, thoug
she was so bad" Esther said quickly
locking her arms around the blac
over there, is almost as fast. Fathe
would give her to you gladly, only b
has taken the oath, so you must nc
ask him. He will not mind you takin
her"
81 see I will come and thank hir
after the war;" Sanford said, laugh
ing. Nov tell me the nearest for
and how ! can get to it quickest"
1.-THE bend is nearest-only ten mile
off-but you cannot cross there. Th
Yankees keep pickets in a stockad
just by the ford. You will have t
strike for the Rifle. That is five mile
lower down."
1.-THE Rifle! How shall get there!
go out that way" Esther sait
sweeping her arms southerly. "Strik
through the woods to the big road.
is only a mile. Follow it to the eros
roads, and there take the left
She stopped short. Straight frol
the south came the grumble Of drum
undervoiced by the blurred beat {
hoOfs.
Sandford's head went up. "Mounte
infantry" he said.
'If they know would they be aft
youT' Esther asked. Sanford not
ded.
For minute he stood silent the
cautiously approached the brown mar
sprang lightly upon her back an
said: "Those drums sound my boot
and saddle. but il is clear | cannot g