Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-12-18
Copyright. lslA by Frank A. Munsey.J
Is
CHAPTER xXVII-continued.

by the signs the land ahead vas full
II bandits and ladrones, men to whom
human life was nothing and a woman
no more sacred than a brute. At the
pass all trails c%onverged, from the
north and from the south. Not by any
chance could a man pass over 1t in the
daytime without meeting ome n on
the way, and II the base revoltosos
once set eyes on Gracia it would take
more than a nod to restrain them.
So, In a sheltered ravine they sought
cover until it was dark. and while
Gracia slept, the heavy-headed Bud
watched the plain from the heights
above.
As he watched he dreamed Of a
home in which this woman now sleep
ing beside him was the queen. He
dreamed Of years to come with un-
bounded happiness throughout all Of
them. Thoughts of Phil and duty to
ms pardner were far away. Nothing
on the plain below served to distract
him from this dream of happiness.
AS far as he could see there was
nothing that savored Of danger for
the woman in his keeping. There
were no sounds or signs of either
federal or revolutionary troops, from
both of which they were fleeing, and
from both of which he must guard
her. Again they were in a world that
was all their own, an Eden with but
pne man and one woman.
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed, and with the dreams
came the desire for sleep. the cry Of
nature for rest. Gracia stirred, then
spoke softly to him, calling him by
name, and her voice was as music
far away.
When she awoke and found him nod.
ding Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re-
freshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling, but Bud could hardly see.
Nhe long watching by night and by day
had left his eyes bloodshot and swol-
len. with lids that dropped in spite Of
him. II he did not sleep now he
might doze in the saddle later, or ride
blindly into some rebel camp; so he
made her promise to call him and lay
down to rest until dark.
The stars were all out when he
kwoke. startled by her hand on his
hair. but she treasured him with a
word and led him up the hill to their
lookout. 1t was then that he under
stood her silence. In the brief hours
during which he had slept the de.
serted country seemed suddenly to
have come to life.
BY daylight there had been nothing
10 suggest the presence of men.
But now as the velvet night set
tied down upon the land it brought
out the glimmering specks Of a hun.
Hred camp-fires to the east and to the
north. But the fires to which Gracia
pointed were set fairly in their trail,
and they barred the way to Gadsden.
Look" she said. Il did not want
10 wake you. but the fires have sprung
mp everywhere, These last ones are
tight in the pass"
'When did you see them7" asked
Hooker, his head still heavy with
sleep. Have they been there long?'
mo; only a few minutes" she an.
swered. eat shutdown I saw those over
to the east-they are along the base
pf that big black mountain-but these
Mashed up just now: and see, there
are more, and more!"
Some outfit coming in from the
north" said Bud. They've crossed
over the pass and camped at the frs,
water this SIDE"
"Who do you think they are?' asked
Gracia in an awed voice. "Insurrec
tos?"
Like as not" muttered Bud, gazine
from encampment to encampment
sBut whoever they are" he added
they're no friends Of ours. We've go'
10 &c around them"
"And If we can't?" suggested Ora
cia.
81 reckon we'll have to go through
then" answered Hooker grimly. wv
Don't want to get caught here in the
morning"
Ride right through their camp?'
gasped Gracia.
let the sentries get to Sleep" HI
went on, half to himself. "Then, jus
before the moon comes up, we'll try Il
edge around them, and If 1t comes Il
: showdown, we'll ride for it! Ar
you gamer"
He turned to read the answer. ant
she drew herself up proudly.
"Try mel" she challenged, DRAWN,
nearer to him in the darkness. And 81
they stood. side by side, while thet
lands clasped in promise. Then, q
ne night grew darker and no new
ares appeared. Hooker saddled up tn
@eIlted horses and they picked thei
~ down 70 the trsN
The first fires were far ahead, bu
Aay proceeded At . wall. their hcrsea