The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-08-01
CHAPTER XIV.
Flight.

H 1
fered in what she was doing. he drew
her into The shelter Of the porch anC
caught her close 10 him. I'll take you
straight to Mrs. Jeffries. When you
are ready, youll marry me Wen make
our peace with your Uncle Duke to-
Scther. Great God! What a night
This way, dearIe."
"No, to the stable, Henry. Where's
your horse?'
"Under the pine, and yours, too. ]
found the pony, but l couldn't find
your saddle, Nan"
81 know where It's hidden. Let's
get the horses
"Just n minute. | stuck my rifle I'M
der this porch" He stopped and felt
below the stringer. Rising in u mo-
ment with the weapon on his arm, the
two hurried around the end of the
mouse toward the pine tree. They had
almost reached this when II murmur
unlike the sounds of the storm H. lie
De Spain hal. his companion.
what is it," she whispered. He
listened intently. Without speaking.
he took Nan and retreated to the cor
ner of the house. There Is somebody
In that pine" he whispered, waiting
for me to come after the horses. Sass
soon may have found them. I'll try
1t out, anyway, before take a chance.
Stand back here. Nan"
He put her behind the corner OF the
house, threw hrs rifle TO his shoulder.
II fired as nearly as he could In the
darkness toward and just above the
pine. Without an instant's hesitation
a pistol shot answered from the direc-
uon In which he had fired, and In
another moment a small fusillade fol.
lowed. by the Almighty" muttered
DE 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 1t, Nan, and push them
back We've got to have those horses"
IF we could only get away without
a fghtw
"Ihis Is Sassoon and his gang, Nan.
You heard Pardaloe. These are not
your people. I've got to drive 'em. or
were gone, Nan"
Then 4 go with you"
Nan, you can't do it," whispered
De Spain energetically. "a chance
bullet"
She spoke with decision: 81 g O
with you. l can use a rifle. Better
both of us be killed than ona. Helm
me up or this roof. I've climbed II
a hundred times. My rife is in my
room. Quick. Henry"
Oyerruiing his continued obiec.
tons, she lifted her foot TO his hand.
put her second foot on De Spain's
shoulder, gained the sloping roof. and
scrambled on her hands and knees up
to the window OF her room. A far-ofr
peal OF thunder echoed from the noun.
tains. Luckily. no fash had preceded
II, and Nan. rife In hand. slid safely
down 10 b end Of the lean-to. where
De Spain helped her to the ground.
de directed her how to make a zigzag
toward the pine, and, above
all. TO throw herself fat and sidewise
AFTER every shetland not to fire
often.
In this way they advanced SLOWLY
but safely TO the disputed point and
then understood-the horses were
gone. A fresh discharge of shots came
from two directions-seemlngly 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
large rocK familiar to Nan even in the
dark. While De Spain was debating
Ia his mind how TO meet the emer.
gency. h stood at his side. his eoua,
ne knew, In courage, daring and re-
source, and answered his rapid oues-
lions as TO possible gateways OF
escape. The rain. which had been
abating. now ceased. but from every
assure In he mountains came the roar
OF rushing water. and little openings
OF rock and waterway that might have
offered a chance when dry were now
out Of the question. In fact, Ii 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 a 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-
iOus doubt one chooses an alternative
and hastens to follow 1t. Retreat is
the thing for us. Nan. Let's make for
Music mountain and crawl into our
till morning. Lefever win 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
difficulties. Water impeded them
Nan picked their trail.
But for her perfect familiarity with
,vasy foot of the ground. they could