Charlevoix county herald., 1917-11-23

man leaped to q white heat, and I
stopped him; not with q napier stab.
but with my fist struck him q blow
behind the ear. the force Of It knock
ing him from the box to the road. He
was on his feet In an instant and stood
rubbing his head to gather his scat
tered wits. while !. with but one OBJ
pect In view. caught up the loosened
reins, reached for the whip. and lean
ing Ger the drivers seat dashed the
spirited animals into a run.
But the chariot was heavy. and l
was perfectly aware that the squad OF
dragons behind Us was progressing
two feet to our one and at that rate
we would be overhauled before We
came near to Robinson's house. And
this knowledge drove me desperate.
We were then tearing down a steep
hill, at the bottom Of which was a
bridge crossing a small brook. i
turned to the girl who was holding to
the side of the heaving chariot. Can
you rider" l shouted. She nodded
an Affirmative. and when we came 10
the bridge drew up on its center.
thereby blocking the road.
Quick" I cried. "They are after
Us. and about a mile back. and gain.
ing. We have but one chance that
can see. Peter will tell them we are
bound for the Apthorpe mansion. We
must get to Robinson's and trust to
finding a boat Thereon. by the Lord.
I'll swim the river on a plank. Can
you ride bareback? You must!"
Il never have since ! was little
girl, but WILL" she replied. with set
was enduring.
In less than three minutes / had
thrown the harness from the painting
animals, all save the brides, and seat.
ing the girl on one OF them. threw my.
self across the other. and away we
went. leaving the narrow bridge i'm
passable until the chariot should be
hauled aside.
will never forget that wild ride. It
was a wonder how the girl stuck to
the wooden loin-blanket with its EN-.
broidered arms which / had left on
both horses, for II was all ! could do
to retain my own seat, and had been
used to such riding. On the whole she
was a better horsewoman than was a
horseman.
And now We flew. The wind. which
had hitherto been a dead calm, roared
In my ears; the rain, now falling fast.
er and faster, stung my cheeks like
buckshot, the water streaming into my
eyes and well nigh binding me. Az.
ness close hood somehow became
loosened and was lost, and soon her
unstayed hair was streaming behind
her like the golden tail of comet.
Never will forget the rush Of the air
an we sped through 1t, the clatter Of
hoofs. the spatter OF mud and loose
pebbles. the way that roadside objects
reeled past.
The tremendous danger threatening
US no longer oppressed me; my spirits
became exuberant for the moment,
and yelled like Gle possessed Il was
growing dusk by then. but ! did not
seem to realize 1t.
do not know how far we were from
Robinson's when we took to bareback
riding; but II made no difference; the
horses knew the road, and possibly
thought they 4, re bound for the sta
bles. for without being guided they
swung into the driveway, nor did they
ease their pace until they were well
behind the house and close to the
great stone barn. then the finest on
the island. A mile beyond could see
the tall chimneys of the Apthorpe
mansion.
] leaped from my horse and lifted
down the girl. and then knew we had
stopped none too soon for her, for her
face was ashy white as she stretched
out her arms to me. with little wan
smile forced TO her lips, and had not
been there to catch her she would
have gone to the ground. l then saw
she was unconscious.
Even as | stood there holding her
lifeless form in my arms | heard the
clatter Of many boots come plainly
through the hiss of the falling rain,
and then between the trees along the
distant road / saw six dragons flash
past and go tearing up the highway.
Behind them came a seventh rider, 60
ing as II his horse was too weary to
keep with the rest. uttered Thank
Cod" as ] saw the little troop going
on FOOLS errand, they probably hav.
ing been misguided by the negro.
But the respite for us would not be
long. | must risk the boat, II there
was one. and risk II by daylight-un.
less Agnes was dead. My heart almost
stopped as the possibility struck me,
for l was not used to seeing fainting
women. II she were dead what mat
tered what became of me, though ev-
en- then / swore they would have the
body OF neither OF US. I would find a
boat somehow. and with her cross the
river In the face OF hell itself And !
would have but one regret beside
that OF my own loss: had neglected
to kill the villain who was at the bot