The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-12
perpendi cularly to the distance of
nearly a quarter of 4 mile below. -

AT inc OaSe ran = highway and just
beyond broad deep river, which we
at once ;recognized.s The sprecipice
seemed to surround the tract on it's
three sides, leaving one side open. up.
on which we had entered, and, as it
seemed, had been fairly trapped, We
looked hastily about to the left and
right, hoping to find place less pre-
clptous, but in vain. There was little
time for reflection, and after a few
minutes hesitation saw the Generals
lips close with determination, and I
knew that the sequel meant no sur.
render.
eve must 60 down, Biles,'' said he.
owe can do it if we leave our hor.
ses behind.' hurriedly replied.
THAT would be half Il victory for
them,' he said ''and about as bad for
US as capture. We had better kill the
beasts trying to take them down than
to leave them behind
While he was saying this he had dis.
mounted, and had begun to urge his
horse over the chasm. The earth I'M
derneath the surface where we stood
had caved away and left eight or ten
feet of the descent perpendicular, af.
ter which there was i little slone
though it was slight, to a plateau a
hundred and fifty feet below. I fol-
lowed the example of the General in
dlsmounting, and we tried to force
the unwilling beasts over the brink.
put at each endeavor they started
pack III terror, and came near escap-
ing us altogether. We had tried
this three times, and failed, when. as
we proceeded to make q fourth at
tempt, our pursuers emerged from a
bend In the road. and seeing us Ut
tered a shout of exultation. The Cen
eral cast one look at them. and then.
vaulting into his saddle and drawing
the reins, sank his spurs deep into the
animals side. With culver of pain
the horse reared wildly upward, and
at one bound went headlong over the
cliff. saw the forms of rider and
horse so tumbling down the descent,
and, then, without noting the result,
followed.
In moment [ was over the cliff. and
IN another moment over the animals
head, and simultaneously but seperate-
~ we were sliding. rolling, and falling
to the bottom. I had hardly time to
think until l found myself on the level
plateau, about twenty feet broad at
the foot of the first decent, my horse
at one side shaking himself and whin-
neylng, and the General just disap-
pearing down the second declivity.
stood half bewildered for moment,
but noticed meanwhile that thick
clumps of bushes grew along the edge
OF the second cliff. and that below this
stood a rambling farmhouse with a
garden fence Of high boards extending
up the decline. Below this [ saw the
road, and in the road I recognized one
of our forage trains, protected by quite
body of infantry. They had stopped
for rest evidently, and my heart
bounded as l thought the pursuers
could now be turned back. While
these reflections were passing through
my mind WAS suddenly recalled by a
shower of bullets that came whizzing
about me. The cavalry had arrived
upon the cliff above, and sighting me
had fired a volley, but happily without
effect. One shot struck my horse in
the flank, however, and maddened by
the pain the animal started forward.
grasped the bride as he did so, and
urging him on we were both soon tum-
bling down the second decline, now on
our feet, now on our backs, but always
hurried swiftly toward the bottom.
The way seemed very long, though the
time must have been exceedingly
short, and | hardly knew whether we
were to be crushed into jelly or broken
to pieces before heard a crash, and,
glanclng forward, saw my horse tum-
bling through the high but decayed
board fence alluded to into garden.
at the same time I heard a little
scream, and half falling half vaulting
through the aperature so suddenly
made by the beast, found myself face
to lace with young lady who held in
her hand tin basin half filled with
berries, and who stood looking at the
horse who proceeded and the man who
followed with an air of great amaze
ment. l gathered myself up as quick
ly as possible. My horse, seemingly
uninjured, had gone quietly to nibbling
the grass at one side, and L, turning to
the young woman and lifting my bat
tered and begrimed hat and looking
no doubt exceedingly ridiculous, said:
5'sGood evening madam
1T must have been extremely COM
ical. and do not wonder that the
young lady began laughing very heart
lily.
81 am sorry about the fence,'' said T.
looking at the PROSTATE wall; s'but it
was a pure accident, I assure you,''
] "Dld you come out of the clouds.''
said the young lady, cor over the
cliff?''
''Cliff, I returned, s'though it might
as well have been the clouds: Did you