Page 157 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

went back to his comrades, who were all calling to him to
come along, and were accusing him of trying to lake up the
time until the relief came, because he was ahead; and did not
want lo play more and give them a chance to win the horse
back

Jack lay still for a minute, and then took a peep at the
men, who were all busily playing. Then he crept up. As
soon as he was out of sight, he sprung to his feet and walked
boldly up to the horse, caught him by the Lit, and with a
stroke of his knife cut the rope almost in two close up to his

head. Then he climbed up on him, gathered up the reins,
fixed his feet in the stirrup leathers, bent over, and with a
single stroke cut the rope and turned him toward the bridge.
The horse began to rear and jump. Jack heard the men stop

talking, and one of them say, "T h at horse is loose another
one said, “ I'll go and see another saidt " There’s the relief."
Jack looked over his shoulder. There came a half-dozen
men on horses. There was no time to lose. Lifting his
switch above his head, Jack struck the horse a lick with all his
might, and with a bound which nearly threw jack out of his

seat, he dashed out into the moonlight straight for the road,
" He's loose 1 there's a man on him ! " shouted the men, spring­
ing to their feet, jack leaned forward on his neck and gave
him the switch just as a volley was fired at him. Pop, pop,

popT pop went the pistols; and the bails flew whistling about
jack’s head : but he was leaning far forward, and was un­
touched, Under the lash the horse went flying down the
path across the little field.