Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-02-24

the building being smashed by tn
angry mob, had opened the door ant
told them the prisoner was gone
Some had rushed in TO verify tn
statement. while others had rushe.
OF Immediately to get horses for th,
pursuit that was drawing so unpleas
antly near, and that was rapidly con
yincing me of the truth OF statement
had often heard, to the effect thai
lnan-hunting was the most exciting
and interesting Of all sports. Speak
ing from the point OF view OF the mar
hunted. can assure any one that thS
interest and excitement are so exces-
sively great that large portion Of i
could be thankfully spared. whatever
may be the case with the hunters.
We continued 10 urge on our horses
that were beginning to show signs OF
distress. to their top speed; and yet
the sounds OF the hoof beats Of our
pursuers drew nearer and nearer. A
late moon that had risen during our
last mile. finally gave us a glimpse OF
the leaders OF the pursuing party top
ping low hill in our rear. close on
our heels. A hoarse cry from their
direction indicated that they had seen
US also, and this was further acceptu-
ated a few moments later by the dis
charge of rife, and sound of ball
whizzing past, most uncomfortably
close to my right ear.
Our horses can't last much long
err the sheriff whispered hoarsely
and I'm skeered they'll oyertake us
before We reach that wood ahead
Gould you escape with the man il
You once got in the woods?' / asked
"Yes,'' he answered, II you could
hold EN- for ten minutes, Mr.. Hamil-
ton. and this darned fool niger amt
too skeered to run, know some paths
there from nay scouting days. where
horses Cant go; and if once got
thele. I'd defy the whole county to
ketch me"
The .derned fool nigger's' teeth
were sounding like castanets above
the clatter of the horses hoofs, as he
mumbled ont, Il kk-kin run f-f-fast
err nuff, Marse Hank"
A second ball designed think
rather to scare us into stopping than
to hit US whizzed by, and lent ex-
phasis to tho sheriff's words.
Il will try; you go on said. And
hauling up the staggering horse with
jerk that nearly threw him of his
feet, / wheeled him around and faced
our pursuers, in a frame of mind far
from happy scared, in fact. bui
fully determined to hold them al any
cost
Fortunately the wood, the sherifl
had spoken of was only scant quar-
ter of a mile away. and the road We
had been following was Well fenced
lane. that prevented our pursuers
from scattering and going around me
had scarcely faced about and
drawn my revolyers, when the leading
man somc races ahead of the mex
two, and with eight or ten moro fol
lowing close behind was upor me
and in another instant would have
dashed me to the ground or aside
when with lightning rapidity and
dexterity gained in many mountain
hunt in South America, sent 3S
calibre ball through the brain of hi.
horse, calling out Halt" in stem.
torian tones at the same time. The
poor animal fell almost under my owr
horses front feet throwing his rider
heavily to the ground: and, to ms
great relief, I saw the rife in his
kand-that seemed to be the only on5
with the party, though pistols shown
in the hands of all thrown ont yio-
lently past me against the fence. The
two next mon refined their horses
hack OH their haunches. and found
themselves covered by my two revo1-
vers; and the whole following party
drew up suddenly in bunch behind
AS faced that group OF angry, de.
tormined men there in the pale moon
light, with the dead horse and its
stunned rider showing family on Thu
dusty road between US. imagine
was as near the border-land OF life al
shall ever be until deaths aetna
call is made Without giving then
time to think, instantly called out
not loudly, but very distinctly
BY the living God! the first mar
that attempts to pass will be as deaf
as that horse there before he car
breathe a prayer"
Though they were twelve to one
and determined, the suddenness ant
unexpectedness OF my challenge non
pfussei them for a moment, AM
caused Them to hesitate. This CAV
me an opportunity. and / began
speaking rapidly, out very clearly AIT
distinctly:
II mean Just exactly what I said
no man shall pass here alive. II yoi
try, you may Kill me in the ond; bu
five or six Of you viii have answers
the last great call first care n,
more for the man you are after thai
you do yourselves. though / beTiey
he is innocent But If he were a
1 black In crime as the Devil himself.