rds.

CHAPTER XX.
Kidnapped.

CHAPTER XXI.
The Search.

CHAPTER XXII.
The Rescue.

CHAPTER XXIII.
A Battle With Moonshiners.

CHAPTER XXIV.
"I Thee Wed."

THE KENTUCKY RANGER

CHAPTER I.

The Ranger.

"Glory to God! another sinner's down! Glory! Hallelujah! Amen; Pray on,
brother; you'll soon be through. Glory! Glory!"

These words were shouted by two young men and a young woman who were
returning through the Kentucky woods from a camp meeting. They were
riding in a smart spring wagon drawn by two good horses. The young man
who was not driving would fall into the wagon, crying for mercy, and
the driver shouted: "Glory to God! another sinner's down!" and the
young lady added: "Keep on praying, brother; you'll soon be saved.
Glory! Glory to God!" Then the young men would change places, and the
other would shout: "You'll soon get through, brother; pray on. Glory!"

These persons acted thus to tantalize a camp meeting preacher who was
riding on horseback ahead of them. He detected their mockery and tried
to outride them; but his horse being somewhat lame he could not escape
them.

The preacher remembered that at a little distance beyond the road ran
through a swamp but that a bridle path wound around it. Putting spurs
to his horse he made for this path but the driver, keeping on the road,
whipped up his horses. Driving into the swamp in his haste and
excitement he did not notice a stump at the side of the road. Crash!
went the fore wheel against the stump, and mounting to its top over
went the wagon into the mud and water. The two young men took a flying
leap into the swamp, and the young lady was thrown out. She was almost
smothered before she was rescued by the young men. While they were in
this predicament the preacher rode up to the edge of the morass.
Raising himself in his stirrups he shouted at the top of his voice:
"Glory to God! Glory to God! another sinner's down! Hallelujah! Glory!
Glory!" Then he added: "Now you poor, miserable sinners, take this as a
judgment from God upon you for your meanness, and repent of your wicked
ways before it is too late." With this he left them, covered with mud
and shame, to their reflections.

Jasper Very (for this was the preacher's name) continued on his way,
now laughing at the sorry plight of his mockers, again singing a hymn
with such power that the leaves of the trees seemed to tremble with the
melody, and anon lifting