The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-05-09
THE END OF A
PERILOUS RIDE.
CourtShip In the Saddle to the
Music of Flying Bullets.
BY MARTHA MC.-wILLIAMs.

Wl!llalnS.I
If only Esther had not sung My
Maryland, My Maryland" which she
loved best of all the war songs. Her
unframed voice was SO rich and true it
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
none for a month. In the third year
Of the civil war, to man and beast
alike, salt was almost a 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 raided almost at pleasure. Thus
salt was among the things reckoned
'contraband 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 be the most uncertain of
all possessions. Esther sang because
she dared not whistle the regular horse
call. She knew Princess, her OWL
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
oughbred, Jet black, the last foal of q
dam never beaten at four miles. Prin-
cess was five years old, Esther seven
teen. They had grown up piaymates
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.
dropped her head, half wheeled and
sided gently until her withers lay I'M
der Esthers hand.
Incautiously she thrust her hand
within her huGdled apron and brought
up some salt grains upon her open
palm. Princess licked them savagely.
thrust her head fercely against Esthers
breast and made as if to paw her with
an 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 Esther's 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 a breath she stood 81
lent. then said with a stamp of her
foot, princess, l never thought you
could be so mean"
Aren't you yourself to blamoE
Princess captor said. He was tall,
we'll made fellow, with a soldierly
air for all his citizens coat, a pair Of
keen gray eyes set in brown face
and the dust Of hard riding all over
him Give the salt-at once" Esther
obeyed in silence. Neither spoke again
until the last grain had been licked Up
and the beasts were biting the earth
where it had lain. Then it was Esther
who asked a question. How does it
happen you are here?"
Il came for a horse and crcpt out
Of hiding to listen to song" the man
said, smiling. The song assures NE
may tell you am John sanford, Il
scout for FOrrest-in plain words, Il
spy At daylight this morning found
out something my general ought to
know at once. Since then l have rid
den my horse down. The poor beast
is lying by the thicket yonder must
have something in his stcad-some-
thing that can go like the wind"
''You shall not have Princess. though
she was so bad" Esther said quickly,
locking her arms around the black
mares neck. "Marquise. the brown
over there, is almost as fast. Father
would give her to you gladly, only he
has taken the oath. so You must not
ask him. He will not mind you taking
her"
81 see. will come and thank him
after the war;" Sanford said. laugh
ing. Now tell me the nearest ford
and how | can get to it quickest"
''The bend is nearest-only ten miles
off-but you cannot cross there. The
Yankees keep pickets in stockade
just by the ford. You will have to
strike for the Rifle That is five miles
lower down"
''The Rifle! How shall get there?"
go out that way" Esther said,
sweeping her arms southerly. Strike
through the woods to the big road. 1t
is only mile. Follow it TO the cross
roads, and there take the left
She stopped short Straight from