Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-07-06

| The town was evidently large, densely
populated place, full of crooked lanes,
/, streets, and blind alleys, among which we
kept wandering for quite an hour before
We were compelled to own that we had
| lost our way.
eff yell be kind enough to take the
lade, Mr.. Grey, we'll folly ye,' said one OF
the bandsmen, turning suddenly round
upon me and scratching his puzzled pate
I'm ready enough to lead, Dennis" |
said I" but I'm about done up for want Of
a little water. | was thinking Of asking
you to carry me-"
I'm thinking, sor, that we may just as
well sit down in the shade and wait, for
the headquarters is jist as likely TO come to
w, as we are to get to it. A big place like
this would puzzle map maker"
l thought I'd tell you, sir, that there's
couple OF Chinese been following us for
the last five minutes" said another of the
men, and faint as if we had rifles"
looked uncasily back down the long,
narrow, sun glared street, but there Was
not soul visible. All was still as death,
save for a distant shot or two, which
seemed to come from quite another part
of the town, and to indicate that the fight
ing was not entirely at an end. The houses
on either end were closely suffered, and
presented the most blank of aspects, and
though We scanned the windows above,
not watching face was visible.
could not help owning that, should we
be attack, d by some detached body of the
Braves, our chances would be very small ;
and should have blamed myself for want
of care, had not the difficulty of finding
In xxsfltl no
come more and more evident at each stride
we took
cts my belafe, sor, that Corporal
Smiths lading US intirely wrong said the
Irishman, speaking again.
Lead yourself, then" said the corporal,
gruffiy, as he tucked his large ophicleide
beneath his arm, and paused to wipe the
| perspiration from his forehead
81 tell you what, sir" said another man
! Tour best cornet. player, 1--WE had better
| make dash for it don't like the look OF
| this at all Will you order a retreat?"
"Why, what's wrongg" said l, testify,
or all the time there was dizzy sensation
before my eyes.
ave ale being lodged, sir, and no mis-
! take; and if we take refuge in one of these
out"
Trying to rouse myself, I.hurriedly took
a glance at our position. We were evil
IDENTIFY in one of the lower parts of the
Down and the street wherein we were was
the of the parrowest l had seen since in
the country. Every here and there alleys
ran off at right angles, but each apparent
ly ended in caL de. sac, and to enter one
of them might have been like running
into gin, from which there was no means
Of extricating ourselves. To make matters
| worse, too, there was at one end Of the
street the CLINT of arms; and moment
after four or five Braves showed them
| selves for moment, and then diSap-
peared
Fortunately, the peril that threatened
our little party seemed to clear my head
| from the misty sensation and tried to
devise some plan for immediate eIecu-
ton.
They will come upon us suddenly from
one OF the narrow streets if they mean to
attack u.s." thought, and, giving the sig
nal to my men, turned off sharply TO the
right, and we walked rapidly in a new di
rection, in the hope that it might bring Ut
to where some of our own men were col
lected.
That we were in danger felt sure. My
men knew it, too; but all the time, in
light hearted, reckless fashion, could heal
them joking together.
al tell you what" said one, "the bands
as good as broken up, If we don't get BACK
What do you say, Dennis?"
"Spoiled intirely," was the reply; and
be dad, I'm glad have mt got to blow
now. for I've no more wind left than
would put out one of Wildly Flanaghan's
dips, and they were "a to the pound How
are you, corporalg"
"Blown," was the gruf reply.
Then we went on in silence for short
distance, but only to stop short as we
turned corner, for there was burst OF
wells in the distance, and the clangor OF
gong, and we became aware OF the fact
that about thirty Braves were in close ptlr-
suit of couple of our men, who were cyl
IDENTIFY hard pressed.
"Come ont" shouted, with my blood
seeming to boil; but long before we could
reach the spot, we saw the two poor tel
lows overtaken, and fall pierced with q
score of spear wounds.
"Come back, sir, quick, come back !" ex.
claimed a voice, and the sword armed
hand of the stout ophicleide. player was
laid upon nv arm. cts like rushing on
death, and-here, quick! down here" he
shouted, hurriedly: those fellows who
have been lodging us are closing up
A glance revealed our position plainly
enough: we were between two fires, and,
darling down narrow lane, we hastily
pursued its windings.
"Our people must hear the noise soon,
and clear the town." whispered the corpo-
raj to me, as he forced his arm under mine.
Hold up, sir, you're bit weak-thats
the way. Now then, men, keep together
it's our only chance"
The lane seemed as if it would have no
end. and all the time there were our
enemies yelling and shouting in full pur'
snit If we were overtaken, we knew
what our fate must be-instant death, or
else some horrible torture, for in their eyes
we were so many foreign devils.
looked back twice, each time to see the
fierce faces of the yelling mob painting IN
pursuit, and once grew dizzy with dread ;
but / was pressing on the next moment,
nv heart ieaping with joy as Corporal
Smith exclaimed, "Hold up, sir! we'll
stand by you to man; and look there's
the end Of it at last"
The end of the lane was indeed there
| L~.-r~ ua cow that IL was