Neal, the Miller | Page 9

risk of coming directly
upon Haines.
Fortunately his pursuer was not as near as he had fancied, and soon he
was riding at the best possible pace over the narrow path. He had
emerged beyond the spot where the half-breed was stationed, and
before him was nothing to jeopardize safety; it only remained to
distance the white man.
Two miles were traversed in a remarkably short space of time, and then
he was on that portion of the road which ran in a straight line through a
sort of clearing. That it was possible for his pursuer to see him during a
certain time was shown, as a bullet whistled within an inch of the
fugitive's head.
"That makes two shots, my friend," he said, as if to keep up his courage.
" Unless I am mistaken, you had only a couple of pistols, and by the
time they are reloaded I shall be screened by the bushes again."
That his calculations were not correct was shown as a second ball
passed uncomfortably close, and a third tore through his coat-sleeve,
causing the warm blood to gush down over his hand.
"Only a scratch, nothing more!" he shouted, and then he was among the
friendly shelter of the trees again.
The horse upon which Haines rode could not hold the pace, and when
half an hour had elapsed no sound of pursuit was heard.
It was time Walter gave the captured animal a breathing spell, if he
hoped to reach Salem as he had calculated, and he brought him to a
standstill while he pulled off his coat to examine the wound on his arm.
It was rather deeper than a scratch, but yet nothing more serious than to
cause a goodly show of blood, and Walter put on his coat again without
a thought that any bandaging might be necessary.

This done, he rode on at a more leisurely pace, but listening intently for
any sound betokening the approach of his enemy.
Nothing occurred to cause him alarm, and it was not yet sunset when he
drew rein in front of William Cotton's store.
That gentleman was in and disengaged, as was seen when he came to
the door for a view of the new arrival.
"What! Is it you, Walter Neal?"
"There is no doubt about it in my mind, although my joints are so stiff
from long riding that if I was less acquainted with myself I might
believe I was only a portion of the saddle," Walter said, laughingly, as
he dismounted, and added, in a graver tone, "I must speak with you
alone, Friend Cotton."
"I am alone now. Take your horse to the stable, and come back at
once."
"I will leave him where he is; perhaps it will not be well for you to
know anything about him." And then hurriedly entering the store,
Walter explained why he must reach Boston without delay, after which
he gave a brief account of his misadventures.
William Cotton, although a sympathizer with those who were about to
offer resistance to the commands of his most gracious majesty, was a
prudent man, and feared to be known as a disloyal citizen.
The fact that Samuel Haines would probably soon arrive in search of
his horse caused Master Cotton no little disquietude of mind, and he
said, reprovingly,-
"It is well to be zealous in a good cause, Walter; but it is wrong to
commit a crime in order to compass your own ends."
"What crime have I committed?"
"The theft of the horse will be charged against you, and those who are
intrusted with the execution of the law do not favour such an
association as that in which you have enlisted."
"My getting possession of him was the fortune of war, not a theft. I was
a prisoner, made so unlawfully, and had the right to escape as best I
could."
"That argument is good here; but will be of little avail to those who
look upon you as a disloyal youth, who should be deprived of his
liberty.'
"If I am to be charged with horse-stealing because of what has been

done, it cannot be avoided now. Before I am arrested I must carry the
message with which I have been entrusted, and to do so I need another
horse. I had believed I could get one from you without difficulty."
"So you can, lad but at the same time you must not think hardly of me
if I use proper precaution to save myself from being caught in the
meshes of the law. You know where my stable is j take an animal from
there without my permission, and I cannot prevent it."
"I am to steal another horse in order that you may not get