The Irish standard., 1911-10-07

~ oNSAnA4A O A10SA>4 I0A BOO WudL lilly
twas, or reckon I'd a walked over
him in Their dark" !:
Had We better ride him DOWN." I
asked, thinking only how rapidly the
night hours were speeding and of the
importance Of tho duty pressing upAn
US.
"Not with Their woman, sir" he an
swered in a low, reproachful voice.
Besides We never could git through
without shot, an if by any dern luck
it should turn out to be cavalry out,
post-an' sorter reckon that's what
1t is-why. our horses are In no shape
fer hard run. You uns better wait
here, sir. an let me tend ter that scger
man quiet like, an then p'raps We uns
kin all slip by without a stirrin' up
|, Their patrol"
Well" I said, reluctantly. yield
ing to what felt was doubtless tho
wiser course, and mechanically grasp
Ing the rein he held out to me, go
ahead. But be careful, and don't
waste any time. II we hear the sound
Of shot We shall ride forward under
spur" :,
IAN right, SIR, but therein be no
fuss, fer l know just whar Their Teller
u.s."
limo seems criminally long when
one is compelled to wait in helpless
uncertainty, every nerve ON strain.
Hold yourself ready for . sudden
start" I said, warningly to my COM
panion. IF there IL any noise Of q
struggle yonder I shall drive in tha
spurs
As spoke swung tho sereeantA
horse around to my side, where 1
could control him more readily
There was no reply from tho wom
an, but noticed she endeavored to
draw together the Tapping cape Of
her cloak. as though she felt chilled
by the wind and her figure seemed to
stiffen in the saddle.
1t came at last-not tho sharp Hash
of musket cleaving the night In
twain, but merely the tall figure OF
the sergeant. stealing silently out Of
the gloom like black ghost, and
standing at our very horses heads.
"All clear, sir" he reported In q
matterof-faot tone. But we shall
hev ter move mighty quiet, fer ther
main picket post amt moro nor q
hundred yards ter the right O. Their
crossin'."
He did not romount, but, with rstna
flung loosely over his arm. led the
way slowly forward, and carefully wa
followed him.
What had become Of the sentinel /
did not know, respecting Craig's evil
dent desire for silence; but as we
drew nearer the White Briar road
sought In vain to pierce the dense
gloom ind note some sign of Il strug-
gle. some darker shadow where q
body might be lying. There was moth
Ing visible to tell the story.
The sergeant walked without the
least hesitation across the open space.
] directly into the deep shadows oppo-
site, where tho cross-rond continued
! TO hold way. Crouching low in tho
saddle, we followed him as silently
hs though we were but spirits of the
hight Up the road | caught the red
CLEAN OF fire almost spent, and a
black figure clbssod us, casting an odd
shadow against the face Of the rock
where 1t was lighted by tho flickering
red blaze. 1t was all over in a mo-
ment, n nero glimpse. but 1t formed
one Of those sudden pictures which
paint themselves on the brain and
can never after be effaced. I recall;
e,nf %hn ,h~I 1,,, ~, ovapA
gun, the grotesque shape of his flap
ping army overcoat, the quick changel
in the silhouette as he wheeled to re-.
trace his beat. But there was no
noise, not even the sound Of his foot
steps, reaching us. Even as l gazed.
lying open at full length upon my;
horse, we had crossed the open, and q
perfect tangle of low bushes hid w
as completely as If we had entered the
yawning mouth Of cavern.
A hundred yards or more Of sharply
curving road densely lined with shrub
berry on either hand, and then Craig
swung into saddle and again gave
spur to his horse.
1--WE must ride for 1t now" he said.
| SClb cly. w ucH LuCL pdIIOl luhh0D
their round, them fellers will be after
us hot"
1 urged my tired horse to a gallop,
pressing upon Craig's heels as closely
as dared; nor did glance back, for
l knew we'll that dead picket was
| lying somewhere by the crossroads.
and that his comrades would be heard
from before dawn. We were moving
bravely now; for the road under foot
grew better as we advanced, and gave,
back the dull thud Of soft earth in
stead Of the rafting clang of the
rocks we had been so long accustomed
to. Then, suddenly, my horse was
jerked almost to standstill, the hand
upon his bit seemingly as hard as my
own, and I wheeled in the saddle,
pressing my knees tightly to prevent
being thrown, only to perceive the
woman Juggling desperately at the