The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

horses heads, and constantly looking 70
the right and to the left. In spite Of
all they could do, their horses hoofs
rolled the stones and gravel to the
bottom of the gorge. but this was the
only sound which disturbed the peace
and quiet Of the valley. At last they
reached the summit Of the cliff, and.
as they crouched behind some stunted
pines, Washington crept forward for
look at the country.
i see their smoke" he whispered.
They're over on the right, about a
mile or so, and as | calculate on their
| imprints in the soil there must be
twenty or thirty of them. We've got
&c make quick mEching time now for
MaSanutten Mountain, and with that in
our rear I'll breathe easy again. But"
he added, look at that we're discov-
cred
As he spoke an Indians head rose
from the tall grass to their right and
a face, which showed keenness, sus-
picion, and cunning, gazed at the little
party.
Here. stop that SamboI" said Wash
ington, quickly knocking the black boys
rife into the air as be pointed it at
the crouching savage. No shots at
present for 1t gives them a chance to
hear our rifles and we must save our
ammunition for the fight that's coming.
Now scramble with me to the other hill,
and then gallop like a she-devil, for we
may yet put them astern."
He wheeled his magnificent gray at
this and all followed in precipitous re-
treat, while the Indians head disap-
peared as mysterfously into the tall grass
as it had come No yell sounded and
they knew that he must have gone back
to inform the party of their whereA
abouts, in silence. It's well we didn't
have to fight for it where we were" said
Washington to Jack, as they scrambled
| through the timber. For the yarlets
could have surrounded us on all sides.
II we have a chance to camp Tonight
we do it with our backs to the side Of
mountain, so that If they gather
around US they will have to come on
| in front and not in the rear. If we
die. boys, let's do so nobly and after
a gallant struggle Let every ball count,
and when you find yourself going. give
them one last lingering shot for good
| luck"
Thus they pressed on through the
wood, urging their horses to do their
utmost speed, and neither looking 10
the right nor to the left as they went
| stumbling ahead The day wore on,
while the sun crossed the zenith and
threw shadows in the woodlands, the
veeries began their vesper song, the
night-hawks began to circle in their
evening quest for flies and insects; the
king-birds ceased their screaming from
the tops of dead and branchless trees.
| Still, urged by the voice and gesture of
the strong Virginian, the little party
pressed ever forward through the sill
ence of the forest, while no sound came
from their rear to warn them that the
savages were in pursuit
Pray, can We not stop?" said Jack,
at length. Il feel that We are now
clear from the Indians and that We can
safely slow our pace"
Nay. that IS not true" said Washing
ton. You can never tell when these
fellows are not on your trail. so silent
,, ly do they move through the quiet forest.
! l have had them track me up for days
when little did | suspect their presence
On! Onl Until the shadows of night
darken all about US. on Onp
Urged on by this response, they all
pushed forth willingly, crossed the
waters of two streams, and finally, as
the shadows Of night crept down upon
the wilderness, they were near the side
| OF precipitous mountain.
Here is where We can stop in safety"
at last said Washington. place our
camp against the shelving sides of yon-
der mountain and then let US picket
our horses here in the glen, behind that
dense clump of timber; tie them short
up so they cannot escape; and make no
FIRE. We cannot risk the chance of hav-
ing IT seen by these vigilant savages,
who mayhap are even now right upon
US in spite of the speed with which we
have travelled. and the distance which
we have come"
So they made camp in silence, while
Sambo's teeth fairly chartered in his
head, and Tommy's happy laughter had
vanished into the past. At length, weary
with the exertion OF the day, they lay
down to rest; their feet outward toward
the open, their heads toward the noun
tain. and with Jack on guard, to re-
main awake until , o'clock in the morn
ing. when he was to rouse the colonel
for the second watch.
As Jack blinked at the darkness and
watched the horses nibbling the short
duu SNCGl grass. llOl d SOuuu CdIllC ITOn
the deep forest. Not even the cracking
of a stick disturbed the peace and quiet
of the night. while the gentle trickling
of little stream near by sounded most
sweet and wholesome to his ear Yet.
as he watched the horses. he saw that
one seemed to have cast its hobble, for
it wandered about in a curious manner
and appeared to annoy the others BY
walking around them with too much
freedom.
So, rising from the crouching posi-
ton in which he sat, he crawled care
fully over to where the animal was
standing. The horse snorted-as he ap-
proached-and walked away, disclosing
the fact that it's hobble had been broken
clean through the middle The young
sentinel now rose to a STOPPING position
and walked into the corner of the wood
in order TO get upon the other side of
the pastured steeds. When about half
way to the side of the opening, in
which the horses were cropping the
sweet grass, a sharp, cracking noise
sounded just behind him Instantly he
turned-with his hand upon his knife
but before he could draw It, a dark
figure leaped upon him, poinioned his
arms to his side, and bore him to the
turf, while still another antagonist
clapped hand upon his mouth. and he
found himself powerless in the grip of
his captors.