The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-04-24
CHAPTER XIV.
The Retreat.

over, the camp stove overturned, the
long bench smashed into kindling
wood. With sinking heart / flung
back the sagging canvas, and cast one
glance within. AS heaven witnesses,
she stood there, the blanket still
wrapped about her, her hands grasp
ing rifle, her face turned toward
me. Unconsciously her lips gave ut
preston changed. / sprang forward,
eager, glad.
Rene, you are here!" / cried out.
"Why did you stay?"
at was the word of monsieur she
answered simply Monsieur said stay
till he come
Yes, yes, know; but I never
thought of this; never dreamed of
such defeat. But there is no time to
waste in talk. There is nothing to do
but run for it now. Come, lass!"
Before she realized what | was 60
ing to do. had flung away my rifle
and seized her in my arms. She was
light, slender thing, and l held her
tight in the folds of the blanket,
scarcely feeling her weight. She made
no effort to resist, yet her eyes-be-
wildered, -frightened-looked into
my face. / gave them no heed, my
whole purpose concentrated on the one
effort to save her, to fight a passage
through that mob of frightened men.
The spirit of panic had gripped me
also-not for myself, but for her!
Here was my duty now; not back yOn-
der where those regulars stood grimly
| in line, and died with their shoulders
touching; not where l had fought all
| day in the powder-cloud facing those
forest demons-but in the mob of fu-
| gitives, battling and cursing for their
lives. The road was Uttered with guns
| thrown away, with discarded blankets
| and powder horns. 1 dared not hook
back, straining every muscle, stagger-
| ing forward over the ruts. The roar
| of guns behind grew faint in the dis
| lance; the spit of rifles from the
! thickets ceased. Exhausted, breath
| less, Keeling from fatigue, put her
| down, and, with arm bout her, stood
an instant looking back.
! They were coming, a dark mass
| bearing down upon us, but ahead of
them, wild with terror, his harness
Tapping at his heels, his head flung
from side to side, charged an artillery
horse full tilt. In his mad terror he
saw and knew nothing. He came
straight at US. running as if crazed.
/ / flung the girl into the side of the
road and leaped recklessly for his
head. My hand gripped the name.
then the leather rein; was flung
from my feet, jerked into the air, but
| hung; my moccasins touched ground
| again. l was dragged forward, rem
| dered half unconscious by a blow, but
| weight told. / got fingers on his nos
| trils, and he stood still, painting and
/ trembling. Clinging to him, warned
| by shouts to hurry, stripped the har-
| ness and hoisted her onto the bare
! back. Even as this was accomplished
| the head of that shrieking mob was on
US; one brute grabbed her by the arm
/ seeking to pull her down, and / struck
! him with all the force l had. Then
| ran forward, clasping the horse by the
| bit, crunching our way, needless OF
| who opposed or blocked our passage
| And they made way for us; even in
| their blind terror, they swept aside
to escape being tTampled under the
animals hoofs, and left before us q
| clear path.
/ looked eagerly for some place in
| which to turn aside. saw the faint
trace of an Indian trail, seemingly
leading down the bank of the stream
/ and, with instant decision, turned into
it. / walked the horse now, and Rene
sat up straight, and fastened her dis
arranged hair. The narrow trail lee
through dense thickets and about g
slight hill; in five minutes we were
out of sight of the road, alone in the
wilderness. To the right through
trees was the glimmer of the river
The horse painted heavily, and the way
was rough. There was blood | noticed
now, on his flank, and he limped slight
ly as he walked. / staggered anC
reeled from WEAKNESS, feeling reac
ton from excitement, yet kept griml!
on until we must have covered TIVE
miles, wandering in and out among tbs
, low hills. No sounds reached US, AM
as we came into a narrow ravine
promising concealment, / released m.
grasp on the bit and staggered bacl
: against the bank Mademoisell'
/ slipped from her seat and fastened u
me.
You are worn out, monsieur
wounded?"
Worn out, yet, but nothing ha
touched me save blow or two. L
think we can rest now"
Then it occurred to me, a though
that had swept into my mind one
/ before-we had no provisions q,