The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-30
(copyrighi 1914, by Prank A. Munsey)
CHAPTER &xVII-Contlnued.

ny lliO Sl6lS lhO III hSo "o5 iot
of bandits and ladrones. men to whom
human life was nothing and a woman
no more sacred than a brute. At the
pass all trails converged, from the
north and from the south. Not by any
chance could a man pass over 1t IN the
daytime without meeting some n on
the way, and If 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 or
them. Thoughts of Phil and duty to
his pardner were far away. Nothing
on the plain below served to distract
him Pom this dream Of happiness
AS far as Ee could see there was
nothing that savored Of danger for
the oma 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
one 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.
The long watching by night and by day
had left his eyes bloodshot and swol-
len. with lids that dropped in spite of
him. If 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
awoke. 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
to suggest the presence of men.
But now as the velvet night set.
tied down upon the land 1t brought
out the glimmering specks Of a hun
dred camp-fres 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. II did not want
to wake you, but the fires have sprung
up everywhere. These last ones are
right in the pass"
when did you see them?" asked
Hooker, his head still heavy with
sleep. Have they been there long,"
mo; only a few minutes" she an
swered. "At shutdown I saw those over
to the east-they are along the base
of that big black mountain-but these
flashed 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 first
water this side"
"Who do you think they are?" asked
Gracia in an awed voice. Insured
tos?"
Like as not" muttered Bud, gazing
from encampment to encampment.
But whoever they are" he added.
they're no friends of ours. We've got
to go around them"
And if we can't?" suggested Ora
cha.
81 reckon we'll have to go through,
then" answered Hooker grimly. I'VE
don't want to get caught here in the
morning"
Ride right through their camp?"'
gasped Gracia.
o Let the sentries get to Sleep" he
went on, half to himself. Then, just
before the noon up, we'll try to
edge around them, and if it comes to
a showdown. Wen ride for it! Are
you gamer"
He turned to read the answer, and
she drew herself up proudly.
TRY mel" she challenged, drawing
nearer to him in the darkness. And SO
they stood, side by side, while their
hands clasped IN promise. Then, as
the night grew darker and no new
fires appeared, Hooker saddled up the
well-fed horses and they picked their
way down to the trail.
The first fires were far ahead. but
they proceeded at a walk. their horses
feet falling silently upon the sodden
ground. Not a word was spoken and
they halted often to listen, for others,
too, might be abroad. The distant
fires were dying now, except e few
where men rose to feed them.
The braying of burros came In from
the fats to the right and as the fugi-
tives drew neal the first encampment
they could hear the voices Of the night
guards as they rode about the horse
herd Than &c they waita6 imDofient-