Page:Randall Parrish - The Red Mist.djvu/355

 Rh bag—Hullo, Anse! look thar—it's Kelly comin' back, an', by Jinks! he's a leadin' two bosses."

The returning party came clattering out into the road, past the well, Kelly asking loudly where Cowan was, and then riding straight toward his chief, the two riderless horses trailing in the rear.

"They was hobbled back o' ther chimney rock," he reported shortly, "an' I reckon they'd been rid up the old trail from Silver Spring."

Anse swung down to the ground, and ran his hands over the animals, fingering the equipment.

"Not cavalry stuff," he said, "so tain't likely they belonged ter the Reb we shot back thar in the hollow. Didn't the lieutenant say thet the spy an' the gurl got off on horses hitched by the hotel?"

"I didn't hear tell."

"Well, I did; enyhow they wasn't army horses they took. By God! I believe they're a hidin' now in that church. Here, you Kelly," a new exultant tone to his voice, "scatter your men out around ther whol' buildin'; we've treed our game, I reckon. Hell! hurry up, man! don't sit there starin' at me. Hey, Jem! where are you? Oh, all right; ride back to the sojers, an' tell Fox we've got the coon. Go on now. Wait a minute, Kelly; leave ten of the fellers here with me. I'll look after the front. Don't forget thar's a back door."