Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-07


pf fresh arrivals. An hoSr later and
the single street OF Carson City would
be alive with humanity. eager for any
excitement, ready for any Wild orgy,
bf only once turned loose. That It
would be turned loose, and also di.
fected, the man lying on his face in
The grass felt fully assured. He smiled
grlmly, wishing he might behold
"Black Bart's' face when he should
discover the flight of his intended vic
bins. But there was no time to lose;
every moment gained. added to their
chance of safety.
Are those horses tied there by the
blacksmith's shop" he asked, point
ing.
The negro stared In the direction in
dicated, confused by the shadows
thrown by the dim lights.
Il reck'n dey am, Massa Jack; l
done make out TO-"
Then two of them must belong to
us: come on, boy"
He ran forward, cTouching behind
livery chance cover, and keeping well
back behind the line of shacks.
slight depression In the prairie helped
conceal their movements, and neither
spoke until they were crouching to-
gether beside the wall of the shop
Then Neb. teeth chattering, managed
to blurt out
'Fo' de Lavd's sake. yer don't actu-
ally mean te, steal dem hosses?"
Keith glanced about at the others
dim. black shadow.
"Sure not; just borrow en-"
Put dats a hangln' Job In dis yere
country, Massa Jack"
Sure It Is Il they catch us. But
we'd be strung up anyway, and we
cant be hung twice. Besides there Is
n chance for MS with the ponies, ana
none at all without. An hours start
in the saddle. Neb, and this bunch
back here will never even find our
trail I pledge you that. Come, boy,
stay close with me-"
1t was the quiet, confident voice or
assured command, of one satisfied
with his plans, and the obedient negro,
breathing hard, never dreamed Of OPP
position; all instinct Of slavery held
him to the dominion of this white mas
ter. Keith leaned forward, staring at
the string of deserted ponies tied to
the rail. Success depended on his
choice. and he could Judge very little
In that darkness. Men were strag
Cling in along the street to their right,
on foot and horseback, and the sa-
loon on the corner was being well pat
ronized. A glow of light streamed
forth from its windows, and there was
the sound of many voices. But this
narrow alley was deserted, and black.
The fugitive stepped boldly forward,
afraid that otherwise he might startle
the ponies and thus create on alarm
Guided by a horseman's instinct he
swiftly ran his hands over the animals
and made quick selection
Here, Neb take this fellow; lead
him quietly down the bank" and he
thrust the loosened rein into the
blacks hand.
An instant later he had chosen his
own mount, and was silently moving
in the same direction, although the
night there was SO black that the
obedient negro had already entirely
vanished The slope Of the land not
only helped cover their movements,
but also rendered 1t easy for them TO
find one another Fully "A hundred yards
westward they met, where a gully led
directly down toward the river. There
was no longer need for remaining on
foot as they were a sufficient distance
away from the little town TO feel no
fear Of being discovered, unless by
como drunken straggler At Kcith's
command the negro climbed into his
saddle Both MES were FESTIVE, but
not vicious, an, after a plunge OF two,
TO test their ne = masters, came easily
under control. Keith led the way
moving straight down the gully, which
gradually deep ned, burying them in
It's black heal until it finally de
bouched onto jhe river sands. The
riotoue noises Of the drunken town
died slowly away behind. the night
client and dark The two riders could
scarcely distinguish one another as
they drew rein at the edge of the We
ter. To the southwark there cleaned
cluster Of lights, marking the posi-
ton OF the camp of regulars. Keith
drove his horse deeper into tho stream
and headed northward. tho negro fol
lowing like shadow,
There was a ford directly opposite
the cantonment, and another, more
dangerous, and known to only few
three miles farther up stream. Keep
ing well within the waters edge, Sc
IS TO thus completely obscure theiI
trail. yet not daring TO venture deep 70
fear of striking Quckgand, tho plains
man set his pony struggling forward
until the dim outline of the bank q
his right rendered him confident tina
they had attained the proper point fol
crossing. He had been that way onl,
once before, and realized the danger 0
attempting passage in such darkness
but urgent need drove him forward.
Follow me Just as close as you can
boy" no said sternly, and keep boil
your feet out of the atirrups, II you
horse goes down hang to his tail, ant
lot him swim out"
There was little enough to guide by
merely n single faint star peering on
from rift of tho clouds, but Keith
remembrance was that the ford le
straight out to the center OF tn
stream, and then veered slightly e