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worms 7 Pana oe a ae
“To be sure, sir.” : /
Judy then went to the window, and flinging up
the sash, discharged the revolver Charley had
given her. - .
‘“What did you do that for, you mad girl?” cried
the old scoundrel, in alarm. . -
““To call: my friends, the midnight riders of
Wexford, you miserable traitor. I. am Charles
O’Connor, and I know-you now. I could kill you
with my own hand, but P’ll strike you_in_your
sorest spot. Here are my friends, and the Little
Red Fox defies all hig enemies in Dublin.” |
The daring young rebel sprang out of the win-
dow, just as his riders dashed along the street.
Charley gained the sidewalk in safety, and throw- -
ing off his disguise he sprang on the back of the
horse which was being led by old Corney. ©
- CHAPTER XI.—On the Hills of Wicklow.
The treacherous merchant was fairly stunned
when he realized that he had been dealing directly
with his reckless but true-hearted nephew. The
heavy tramping of horses could be heard along
the street, and the old traitor rushed downstairs
and out of the house. Captain Tracy was -dash-
ing toward him at the head of a strong force of
dragoons, and on after the soldiers rode Major
Sitr and a chosen party of his vile. followers.
~ They had received word that strange horsemen -
were mustering near the Tracy mansion, and felt
that they would have to deal with the riders of
Wexford if they attempted to capture the daring
young leader known as the Little Red Fox. Old
Philip Tracy rushed out to hail his nephew, as he.
said to him excitedly: . eo E,
“He has discovered me, ‘Richard, and there he
goes with his riders! Let me hear of his death at
once!” | . a
“You will, sir, and Mabel will be mine!”
Away went the dragoons and their allies. Cap-
_ tain Tracy had over seventy men-in his command,
and Major Sirr had thirteen. The horses under
‘the midnight riders were strong and fresh after
the rest and abundant oats given them in the city,
and they could have outstripped the pursuers, if
necessary. But such.was not the. purpose of the
young rebel leader. His blood was up to boiling —
point when he thought of his beloved chief lying
in prison, and the treachery of his uncle, and he
said to himself: . , :
“T only hope Major Sirr is after us, and Dick
Tracy also. Then I will try to
that they will never forget.”
The riders kept on at a swift gallop, their young
give them:a dose
_ leader looking back every now and again to watch
their pursuing enemies. As they drew near the
foot of the Wicklow Mountains, Charley perceived
a horseman ahead of them, and the little fox gave
a joyous bark a moment later. The strange horse-
man was talking tothe little fox as the riders —
dashed up to him, and he appeared to be a farmer
advanced in life.- o>
“Robert: Emmet, I declare!” exclaimed Charley.
“Yes, Charley, and-I am glad.to see you safely
“out of the city again.”
’ “Where are you bound?” oy
“The Wicklow Mountains, to. consult with some
’ true friends therg.”
-Charley.
“ards.
NR egter e
THE LITTLE RED FOX |
~“So are we.. Set spurs, man, and we'll travel
together. Ahead with you, Roe!” ent
The friends rode on together at_a swinging gal-
lov, conversing the while. Charley told his friend
that he’ proposed to give his pursuers -a fight in
the hills. Se ee i
“If you attack the dragoons I will ride on and
get some friends.” And Robert Emmet dashed
up the mountain road. :
Charley locked back at his foes, who were then
galloping up the hill about a quarter of a mile
in the rear. a
“Dragoons and men in plain clothes,” he mut-
tered... “I’ll wager Major Sirr is among them. ,
Oh! I’d give my right hand to punish him as he
deserves! A sudden death is too good for him!”
The moon was shining down over the winding
road, and Charley could count:his foes.
“We’re not strong enough for them, sergeant,
in open fight,” he said to Corney.-
“?Twould be foolish to do so, sir.” ,
~“What was that whistle I heard just. then?”
exclaimed the young rebel. -
“It must be Mr. Emmet, calling to his friends
above, captain.” . Le
_.“That must be it. Now if thirty or forty good
fellows with guns were posted on the rocks at
the side of the road above, to open fire on the dra-
goons, it would be a fine chance for us to change
back.” - . : .
The midnight riders drew up a little, as if their
horses were weary, and the dragoons kept clos-
ing on them. oe : .
. “On with your masks, boys!”’ ordered the young
. leader.
As the riders drew near the top of the hill a
voice hailed them: :
“Who goes there?” 7
“The Little Red Fox and his men.”
“Do you mean-to give the rascals battle?”
“To be sure, if you open on them first.”
“Ride on, then, and wheel about when you hear
the guns here.” — :
The dragoons were passing the rocks, when
about thirty guns blazed out at them from unseen
oes. so . . oy
“Wheel, and charge down on them, boys!” cried
“Now to show them what the midnight
riderscando!” 5° oO a :
‘CHAPTER XII.—The-Fight on the Hill Road.
The sudden volley from behind the rocks was a
startling shock to the.dragoons. Fully twenty of. —
them fell dead or wounded at the first fire, an
three of Major Sirr’s rascals bit the dust. The
other spies turned and fled in dismay, the brutal
major swearing at them and. calling. them cow-
If the brutal spy did not possess another
single virtue, his most bitter enemies could not
call him- a coward. Before the. dragoons were ©
_ fairly formed again another volley went crashing
through their ranks from behind the rocks, an
down went more than a dozen men.
“Charge,, men of Wexford!” cried. Charley
O’Connor ag he dashed down ahead of his.men.. .
‘The riders spurred on with their. young leader,
and they burst through the dragoons with resist-
less fury, hurling aside or crushing all who. op-
posed them. . dau .
“Well done, boys!” cried Charley. ‘Whee
° >
“