Year: 1869

ton.


"If | could obtain a trusty messen-
ger, and feet horse, we might send a
message to my company in time to in
tercept the band"


" 1t would be impossible while Muir
den is here, but will tell you what |
can do after the men have gone. |
will take my pony and ride through
the swamp to your company; there
are paths in the swamp that I know
of that will shorten the distance two
miles, and Murden will take the river
road"


Il pray you may succeed, but it
seems too much to ask of you to peril
your life perhaps in the damp swamp
at night"


/" Mr.. Bowden," she exclaimed, "I
should be ungrateful indeed if | sho'd
refuse to do you so simple favor
And Annie is in danger-she must be
rescued at any cost"


They we're here interrupted by the
entrance of Murden, who ordered
Ralph to leave the room. He could
but obey. His comrades were busy,
packing up for their ride, and Ralph
led out his horse and sad1led and
bridled it. Murden came out of the
house, eyed Ralph keenly, and said;


Well you made up for the time
you fooled away in the house with the
girl. You will keep close to me to-
night. New recruits are apt to make
a mistake sometimes in selecting the
time and persons to fire at.


He accompanied these words with
a significant smile, which left Ralph
half convinced that he had been be-
trayed.


In short time the party were in
the saddle, galIoping up the river road
at a furious rate; as they continued
their ride onward, never Stacking
their pace, the heart of our hero was
torn 10y conflicting emotions. He knew
that it would be impossible for Mary
to 90 to his company and for them to
get to the plantation before Murden,
if tLey rode at the rate they were 60
ing now. So he resolved to do some
thing to hinder the troop.


Our hero carefully drew a needle
from his pocket book, where he always
carried a supply. He gave the horse
he rode a smart prick, which made
him snort and kick. Ralph suddenly
rolled off and tell sprawling on the
grass, while his horse gaIloped off like
the wind This of course brought all
| the men to a halt. Murden drew his
rein and cursed the lubberly lout in
language more expressive than ele-
giant. After some delay the runaway
horse was captured, and the party
once more set out. Ralph was we'll
aware of the lndexible purpose Of
Murden. and knew that neither pres
ent supplications nor the fear of fu-
ture retribution would turn him from
his fell purpose, nor could Raj ph hope
to overcome him single handed in any
attempt to avert the doom of his be-
trothed. At times, from the peculiar
look with which Murden regarded
him, he was led to think that the lead
er Of those rufianS had penetrated his
disguise, and had brought him along
to torture him by the sight of the ru-
in OF his beloved. Yet this look
might arise from a natural suspicion
Of new man. But could Mary have
proved false? No. he thought


she is as true as steel, if am any


Judge of human face" But what


if there were no dragons at the post
when size arrived. The thought agi
tated him continually.


:" / will die to save her, and if needs


be" he inwardIy thought, " | will sac


rifce her with my own hands, before
lIurden shall harm hair other head.


With these bitter reflections our he
! 70 rode on by the side of his comrades
: At length the grey stone walls of the
, Lcaton mansion broke on their view
= The full moon poured down hooC
+ OF silyery brightness that made it as
+ light as MONDAY. The long row of


negro cabins cleaned white in the pure
! light, while in the distance the white
q sheets of yapor hung over the damp
+ swamp like a huge veil. As they
! turned in at the great gate, and can
: tered up the graveled walk, huge
t Newfoundland dog sprang out to NEE
them with fierce growl, but sho
t from one OF the men soon put an enc
i to his life. When Ralph saw that tht
n fellow had killed him, he could scarce


ly his indignation, for the dog was I
!. noble creature, and a present from
!, Ralph to Annie.


4 The shot that killed Turk was tn
+ first warning that the inmates of tn
q mansion had had of the approach o
n bandits. As they halted in front 0
O the main entrance, the rafting of bolt
! and chains proclaimed that the in
g mates were aware of the kind of Wis
q itorS they had in the yard. The me-
+ approached the door, and Murden OF
r dered them to open it and let them il
+ The only answer he obtained was
n shot from an upper story window, tina
o passed through Murden's hat, and er
n tered the breast of his lieutenant, VIII
r fell back on the grass and expired
4 This so exasperated the commando


that he ordered the men to force tn
4 door. This was soon accomplished


and the blOod-thir5ty crew rushed int
% the house. Some entered the larg
=. drawing room and commenced th


destruction of the furniture, while otl
+ ers proceeded to the kitchen, in hope
7 to find what was always uppermost i
a their understanding to eat.
is Ralph had given up all hope of SUI
1t cor, and determined to watch Murder
IN He sprang up the stairs after the chic
ID Murden was putting forth his hand t
N open the chamber door of Annie


room, when our hero came up.
st StopW he exclaimed You g
t. not in there, sir ''


le Murden turned round in surpris
ID at hearing the words of comman'
er When he saw who it was, he told hi
ID to mind his own business, and not I


take it upon himself to comman'