The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-05-19

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1or me TO come after the horses. Sas-
soon may have found them. I'll try
II out, anyway, before take chance.
Stand back here, Man,"
lie put her behind the corner of the
mouse, threw his rifle to his shoulder,
anu nfed as nearly as he could in the
darkness toward and just above the
pine. Without an instant's hesitation
pistol shot answered from the direc-
t1on IN which he had fired, and in
another moment a small fusillade fol-
lowed. by the Almighty" muttered
ne Spain, 1--WE must have our horses.
Nan. Stay right here. I'll try driving
those fellows off their perch"
She caught his arm. "What are YOU
going to do?"
Kun In on them from cover wher-
ever can find it, Nan, and push them
back. We've got to have those horses"
III we could only get away without
a fight!"
Ihls is Sassoon and his gang, Nan.
You heard Pardaloe. These are not
your people. I've got to drive 'em, or
we're gone, Nam"
Then l go with you"
Nan, you can't do it," whispered
De Spain theoretically. "a chance
bullet"
She spoke with decision: II 20
with you. I can use rifle. Better
both of us be killed than one. Help
me up on this roof. I've climbed it
hundred times. My rifle is in my
room. Quick, Henry"
Overriding his continued obiec-
lions, SHE lifted her foot to his hand,
put her second foot on De SPANS
shoulder, gained the sloping roof, and
scrambled on her hands and knees up
to the window of her room. A far-off
peal OF thunder echoed from the noun
talns. Luckily, no flash had preceded
1t, and Nan, rifle in hand, slid safely
down to the end Of the lean-to, where
DE Spain helped her to the ground.
He directed her how to make a zigzag
advance toward the pine, and, above
oil, to throw herself fiat and sidewise
after every shot-and not to fire
often.
In this way they advanced slowly
but safely to the disputed point and
then understandable horses were
gone. A fresh discharge of shots came
from two misunderstanding from
the house and the stable. A moment
later they heard sharp firing far down
the gap-their sole avenue of escape.
They withdrew to the shelter of q
large rock familiar to Nan even in the
dark. While De Spain was debating
In his mind how to meet the emer-
gency, she stood at his side, his equal
ne knew, in courage, daring and re-
source, and answered his rapid ques-
tons as to possible gateways of
escape. The rain, which had been
abat1ng, now ceased, but from every
assure in the mountains came the roar
OF rushing water, and little openings
OF rock and waterway that might have
offered chance when dry were now
out OF the question. In fact, it was
Mans belief that before morning wa
ter would be running over the main
trail itself.
"Yet," said De Spain finally, before
morning we must be long way from
this particular spot, Nan. Sassoon
has posted men at the neck of the
gap-that's the first thing he would do.
I'll tell you," he said suddenly, as
when after long uncertainty and anx-
tous doubt one chooses an alternative
and hastens to follow it. Retreat is
the thing for us, Nan. Let's make for
| nd &,,1
cave till morning. Leftover will get
In here some time tomorrow. Then
we can connect with him."
Realizing that no time was to be lost.
they set out on the long journey. Ev-
cry foot of the troublesome way Of
fered difficulties. Water impeded them
continually. Nan picked their trail.
But for her perfect familiarity with
every foot Of the ground, they could
not have got to the mountain at all.
When they got to the mountain trail
Itself they found their way swept by q
mad rush Of falling water, it's deafen-
Ing roar punctured by fragments of
looscned rock which; swept downward
from ledge to ledge, split and thun-
dered as they dashed themselves
against the mountainside. On a pro-
tected floor the two stood for q mo-
ment listening to the roar of the cata-
ract that had cut them off their refuge.
mo use, Man," said De Spain.
''There isn't any other trail, is there?"
She told him there was no other.
"And this will run all night. Henry"
she said, turning to him and as If
thinking Of a question she wanted to
ask, chow did you happen to come to
me tonight when wanted you so?"
II came because you sent for me-"
he answered, surprised.
"But didn't send for you"
He stopped, dumfounded. "What
do you mean, Nan?" he demanded I'M
easily. Il got your message on the
telephone last night, in my office at
Sleepy Cat, from man that refused
to give his name."