Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-22
[Continued from first page. ]

grown 10 Uc Since tTditOrc are Ho loHgST
dangerous.
I've nothin' but my life that I'll guy
up, answered the scout: and ef We tux
tibet, yell hev to pay the prIce-six 81
yourn.'
Fire the house shouted one.
No, don't do thet,' said another. Il
know him-he's c'lar grit,-heIl die IN
the ashes; and we won't git the dis
patch
This sort of talk went on for half an
hour; then there was dead silence, and
the woman went to the loft, whence she
could see all that was passing outside.
About dozen of the horseIRen were
posted around the house; but the remain
der, dismounted, had gone to the woods,
and were telling a well-grown sapling,
wish the evident intention Of using il "a a
battering- ram 10 break down the front
door.
The woman in a low tone explained the
situation and the scout said:
1T r. my only chance. must run for
it. Bring ne yer red shawl, Rachel
She had none, but she had a pett,coat OF
flaming red and yellow. Handling il Is
if he knew how such articles can be made
to spread. the scout softly unbarred the
door, and grasping the hand Of the woman
said
Good by, Rachel. 1t r right sorry
chance; but | may git through. IF | 60,
I'll come ter night; ef don't, git We the
dispatch ter the Cunnei. Good by.
To the right Of the house, midway be-
tween it and the woods. stood the barn.
That way lay the route Of the scout. II
he could elude the two mounted IA n at
a 1. 81
horsemcn, for they would have 20 spring
the barn-yard fences. and their hor~es
might refuse the leap. But il was lobt Ol
man against leg Of horse. and a right
sorry chance
Suddenly he opened the door. and
dashed at the two horses with the prttlcoit.
They reared, wheeled, and bounded away
like lightning. just let ont Of the harness.
In the time that it takes to tell il, the
scout was over the first fence. and scaling
the second but a horse was making the
leap with him. The scouts pistol went
off, and the riders earthly journey was
over. Another followed. and his horse
fell mortally wounded. The rest made the
circuit of the ba1.-yard. and were rods be-
hind when the scout reached the edge of
the forest.
Once among those thick laurels. no
horse nor rider can reach man. if he lies
low. and says his prayers in whisper.
The rebels bore { ie body of their com
rade back to the house, aud said to the
woman
We'll be revenged for this. We know
the route he'll take. aud will have his
life before tomorrow and you--we'd
burn your house over your head. if you
were not the wife of Jack Brown
Brown was loyal man, who was serv-
ing his country in the ranks of Marshall
Thereby hangs a tale, but this is not the
time TO tell it,
soon the men rode away. taking the
poor woman's only wagon as hearse for
their dead comrade.
Night came, and the owl cried in the
woods in n way they had not cried for a
fortnight. 'T'whoot twhootr they went.
rs if they thought there was music in
hooting. The woman listened. put on a
dark mantle. and followed the sound of
their voices. Entering the woods. she
crept among the bushes, and talked with
the owls rs if they had been human.
They know the road yen take she
said; we must change yer route. Here
ar the bullet
God bless We. Rachel responded the
owl. ye're II true 'ooman'-and he hooted
louder than before. To deceive pursuers
and keep uD the music.
Ar yer nag safe p she asked.
Yes, and good for forty mile afore sun
up
Well. here ar suthin ter eat yell need
it. Good by. and God 30 wi he
Hell go wi We, fur He loves noble
wimmin'
Their hands clasped. and they parted
he to his long ride, she to the quiet sleep
OF those who, out of true heart. serve
their country.
The night was dark and drizzly; but
before morning the clouds cleared away.
leaving thick mist hanging low on the
meadows. The scouts mare was fleet.
but the road was rough, and slosh OF
snow impeded the travel. He had come
by strange way. and did not know how
far he had travelled by sunrise but lights
were ahead. shivering in the haze of the
cold. gray morning. Were they the early
candles of some sleepy village, or the
camp-iires of a band of guerrillase lie
did not know. and it would not be safe tc
90 on till he did know. The road was
lined with trees. but they would give nc
shelter; for they were far apart. and the
snow lay white between them. lie wa
in the blue grass region. lettering hi:
horse in the timber. he climed a tall oah
by the roadside; but the mist was toe
thick to admit of his discerning anything
distinctly. 1t seemed. however. to bs
breaking away. and he would wait till hi
way was clear; SO he sat there. an hour
two hours. and ate his breakfast from tn,
satchel Johns wife had slung over hi.
shoulder. At last the fog lifted little
and he saw close at hand a small hamle
few rude huts gathered around a cross
road. No danger could Turk in such
place. and he was about TO descend ant
pursue his journey. when suddenly h,
heard. up tie road by which he came. tn,
rapid tramp of a body of horsemen. Tn,
mist was thicker below so half way dow
the tree he went. and awaited their com
ing. They moved at an irregular pace
carrying lanterns. and pausing every nov
and then 10 inspect the road. as if the,
had missed their way or lost something
Soon they came near and were dimly out
lined in the mist. so the scout could max,
out their number. There were thirty o
them-tne original. and reinforcement
Again they haulted when abreast of til,