Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-14
CHAPTER vi.
The Forest Path.


By hard running I reached the wooded
ridge we'll ahead of my pursuers. Obedient
to Brownie" Davis commands, they were
pushing straight through briar and under
growth, whereas, had they kept to the
path up which was running. they might
have overtaken me almost at once.
AS 1t was, in three minutes l was half
way across the neck" / was beginning
to laugh to myself over the pners' certain
chagrin, when. in the darkness, 1 ran
headlong agains the stump Of tree. The
shock was so severe that I turned quite
faint-for a moment thought / had been
struck from ambush.
I chung, gasping, to the pine trunk until
the first giddiness passed off, Then I
started on, but one stride proved I was
too much shaken to keep up the pace. I
staggered and nearly fell
Brownies" voice rang out a few rods
down the ridge Keep to the bottom,
Bill-he might take to the reeds"
The sound OF men forcing their way
through the woods drew nearer every in
slant. would be caught like a crippled
cat-without the power of resistance.
Summoning all my resolution. stumbled
a few PAGES gained a dense thicket of
scrub pines, and was dragging myself into
their cover, when realized that 1t was
one of the very places my pursuers would
be likely to search most thoroughly.
My motions had disslpated my giddiness.
I gripped the bough Of ten-foot scrub,
and swung myself into its top. sank into
the bushy dome, as hidden as II were
in the moon.
figures burst into the path 1 had just
quilted.
"Forwardr-it was Bram's voice-"He
can't be far"
Look out for the blasted pine, Squirrel
called one of the men.
His warning came too late for my wor-
thy cousin" although checking himself
with vigor, came smartly in contact with
the stump
''Damnationr he yelled. It's broken me
in two!"
The incident served TO bring the whole
party to standstill. They halted in front
OF the scrub pine. / gripped my loaded
riding whip firmly and held my breath
fearful lest they should hear the thumplns
of my heart.
Where the devil has he got tor de-
manded Davis Il heard his boots on the
hard ground a minute ago. The spone
begins the other side of the stump-if he's
leggin' it there now. we're beat"
Feel in the sand" ordered Bran
astutely. May be you can find his tracks
Ugh! I'm near crucified. by gad!"
Straining my eyes, l presently made out
a form crawling zig-zag across the path
yard or two beyond the riven pine.
NO." growled Brownie" after a mo
ment-the fellows conversation was always
larded with oaths which 1 shall not trouble
to repeat-"No, there amt any tracks
} He must ha' stopped before gittin' thi.
} far" He rose to his feet. Where's tn,
most likely placer
In the cripple there" said Bran. Isl
no! Hark TO him! Search him out, boys!'
The boisterous fellow, unrestrained ever
in the gravest moments. cried his men OF
as he would have urged his rounds aftel
fox. They soon beat the thieket from
END to end, while 1 crouched secured!
above their heads.
Cursing their III luck. they again gath
, cred in the path.
Gone clean away" declared Bran e,
dare swear he had a boat, and took I,
, the marsh, after all-dye seer
Davis swore fercely. That's II, Squire
, II Bill didn't get into the bottom first, f.
, be easy enough for the hellion to git hi
punt and sneak down a branch 20 the bay
> That's what's he's done sure"
r Didn't anybody what he locke,
like?' demanded my cousin"
3 Lord! didn't replied the fellow
called LEM. He tumbled through tn
window both ways. like the devil himself
. / amt sure / saw anybody"
We'll, saw him." said Davis. IF n
4 hadn't been so almighty quick. we'd b
T buryin' him now. But I don't know wha
he looked like. I couldn't tell you II h
4 was ten feet high. or white or black"
5 Was he a piner. dye think9"
I "Yes. reckon 90, Squire. don't know.