The Washington times., 1913-09-06
CHAPTER XIII.
A Heavy Price.

~ The Confederate bowed gracefully
to her, wheeled his horse and
galloped back toward his men,
She watched him a moment as
he disappeared through the trees. and
then, gathering her reins in her hano'
with a wildly peating heart she waited.
woods behind her. Instantly she spoke
TO Bonnibel. The mare sprang Forward
at the sound of her mistress voice.
Glad was Ariadne that she had saved
her during the afternoon. Happy was
Bonnibel at being given freedom to do
her best. Like a brown arrow she
leaped forward, and in few seconds
she was running at full speed along the
road
Ariadne cast one quick glance back
ward, and there behind her, short
distance away, thundered the squadron.
IL was spread out in long line by
Elson's Encouragement, of course, as
If the chase had been a hot one. The
wind blew swiftly by her ears, but she
caught the sound Of yells and heard the
crack OF shots Sometimes the dust lick
ed UP on either side of her. There was
something fearfully real about the situ-
alton which made Ariadne's heart beat
faster and her cheek pale. Suppose one
OF those men in his excitement should
make mistake and bullet should
thought to this; another peril suddenly
confronted her-a peril that the captain
mad realized, but which he had in mercy
Withheld from Ariadne.
The Union picket on the road mad
heard the first shot and had Instantly
given the alarm by firing his carbine.
He fired IL straight in the direction OF
A31adne. too. A bullet whiZZed past
hei ear. The sentry was I bold one,
Tor instead of riding to join the main
guard. posted halfway between the
line and the picket, she could see him
lower the carb!ne and jam another
,artridge in it One or two Of her pur-
suerc were armed with long-range
lies. The sentry discharged his
piece again. He was not shooting at
he was trying to escape-5ut was gal
.antiy trying to stop her pursuers. The
range was too long for the cavalry
wearon and tie sentry hit 10 one lie
wIecled his horse to fly AMI suddenly
pitched forward in the saddle before
the eyes of the woman vino was APP
prnaching him at furious gallop. He
mad been shot dead. The main guard
by this time were in the saddle and
dC.ug forw ard to meet the onrush.
Back of them in the Union line busies
were shriliinS, men were running 10
ard fro.
With every second the distance he
tween the two bodies of troops, with
Ariadne in the middle, was decreasing.
Now they were both firing rapidly.
How could she hope to escape in that
cross-ire? She would have turned 20
the right or left, but the road pre-
vented. She bent her head low over
Bornibel and with "a swift but fervent
PRAYER rode desperately on. She would
te killed, she knew. but IL would be
n Philips service-and the Confed-
eracy's. And he loved her, She was
Utmost in touch with the Union pick
Its now; they were trotting rapidly
forward. Remembering her plot. she
instantly raised her head and screamed;
'T am a Union woman. escaping.
Help"
The sergeant in command nodded, the
ranks opened ana she ran through The
areater part of her peril was over. In
stinctively she checked the speed of
Ronnibel and tlrned TO look. The two
ment being outnumbered two to one,
4 I'D met with a terrific smash I'm the
.E.i6dle of the read. The FederaIs. un-
Crnscious of what might be coming on
behind, the Confederate troop, were
einR deliberately sacrificed In order
TO give the supporting battalions al
ready starting from the e-Un.on line
an attack in force.
The Confederates fell on them like
storm. There was a tremendous melee,
in which the clouds of dust .fieked up
!n. the road by the horBes were shot
with fire and smoke: cut Of which came
yells, cheers. shrieks. and pistol shots.
with the ringing. gritting sound of saber
on saber. Ariadne came 70 Q dead stop,
appalled,.
II was all over in q few moments
The Union troops wsrs cut down or