Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-06-09
WHOLE NO. 2,477.

In groups by the fires looking at the
passing trains and heard several
voices call out to them In Russian
In bantering tone.
: "Fhey take us for stragglers," I"
said Casse Tete, in a low tone.
: They won't expect us to answer
them. So much the better"
, In fact, they succeeded i'm passing
the camp OF the infantry without
exciting suspicion, and soon after
saw that the fog ahead of them was
, dark, while the red glare was be-
hind them.
} Then they knew they had passed
the the thick camp-flres at last.
In Il little while the wagons on
the road came to a halt and the
trampling and splashing OF the
horsemen in front ceased.
"They have halted, nv officer.D
whispered Casse Tete. "Now comes
the danger. They will close up the
column sOOn.o
Gabriel knew what he meant.
In march on narrow, muddy
road long column gets very much
strung out with stragglers. making
1t necessary to halt and close up.
oiAN OAl NltOoC ONNNSiOIl6 lIlG OllliOTA
hurry up the rear divisions with
much scoldlng.
Presently they could hear far In
advance hoarse voices, shouting
Russian orders with great deal of
clank and clatter as the difiererent
squadrons trotted to close up.
Gabriel and Casse Tete soon aiter
heard some one trotting back along
the train, and Lenoir turned his
horse into the fields away from the
road, followed by Casse Tete. 1t
was necessary no one should see
them if possible.
AS they turned away two Of the
wagoners called out to them in
Russian, and they saw that they
were still taken for stragglers trying
! to sneak out of the ranks.
They had got fairly out OF sight
in the fog at last, when they heard
! loud voice on the road scolding vio-
lently, and tho two wagoners were
answering.
Casse Tete quietly drew his
sword.
ave have got to fight for II now,
my officer" he said. "That may
be the Provost Marshal himself"
Presently the scolding stopped
and they heard the splashing and
painting ofa horse coming toward
them through the soft mud.
Gabriel and Casse Tete urged
their own horses away and found
the ground was getting softer and
softer.
Presently Gabriel's horse nearly
ran into tree and then sunk up 10
his belly in a water-whole.
1--WE have got 10 marsh," said
our hero in low voice. "Turn
and fight"
lie scrambled out and the two
stood there In the midst OF the damp
fog at the edge OF some swamp,
while they could distinguish the
outline OF hOrseman plunginR
through the weeds toward them.
This horseman seemed to see
them for he shouted out menaclng-
ly to them In Russian something
they did not understand though
they judged 1t as command TO
come back TO ranks.
Gabriel and Case Tete walked
their horses slowly forward to meet
the newcomer who presently came
plunging up on IA big black horse
that seemed TO haYe splendid trot-
ting action.
He came tearing up 10 them and
they saw in the fog and darkness
the face OF an officer with n light
moustache.
He seemed 10 be furious with pas
sion as he came up and rode straight
at Gabriel whom he struck a Vio-
lent blow with his clenched fist ~
he arrived beside him, curslng I'm
Russian, as he did so.
In that very instant Casse Tete
drove the point OF his long sword
into the others body, running him
through the arnl-hOle OF his cuirass
and the Russian uttered a shout OF
pain threw up his arms and fell
from the saddle.
"'Take his horse, Casse Tete,"
whispered Lenoir eagerly. "It's
better than your own. Then follow
me-"
Without hesitation, the Gascon
brought his horse beside the black
and swung himself out N one sad
die into the other In a couple OF Sec
Onds.
Then they turned toward the
road, for Gabriel had made up his
mind to bold dash. He had seen
as the Russian officer approached
that he was mounted on n horse OF
the same breed as his own stolen
charger and ne felt that with Casse
Tete on such an animal they were
both better mounted than any man
in the column except few officers.
Over the common troop horses their
superiority was marked.
Without any hesitation they
dashed off through the mud Mt q
rapid slashing trot, gait TO which
their animals seemed TO be peculiar
ly fitted: and IN few short min
utes had come up to the halted col
unm of artillery and calvery.
AS they trotted boldly past the
flank Of the column, they saw the
men turn their heads TO look but
none said word. They were evil
IDENTIFY taken for two officers going
to the head OF the column TO see the
colonel.
They found the men sitting on
their horses patiently, lighting
pipes, singing or chatting 10 pass
the time and waiting for the order
to close up.
After a littlo they came to gap
in the road where II WAS open and
dashed out into II for they heard
the clatter OF another squadron
closing up in front.
AS they did SO, an officer at the
head OF the last squadron yelled
out an order and the whole squadrOn
came gathering after them. Then
they found themselves on the high
road with Russian troops In front
and behind them all trotting away
for dear life.
Not for long though.
Inside OF a quarter Of n mile they
caught up with the squadron ahead
and then dashed round by the hank
pushing still for the head Of the col
umn.
No one had suspected them yet.
On they went, convinced AT every
step that their horses were better
than any other in the regiment they
were passing 80 easily, and at la5t
saw that they had come to the head
Of the regiment. Yes there was no .
II now. The first squad
ron was marching forward at a
,lashing walk, with a little group
Of officers ahead, and the solitary
1gure Of the colonel in front.
''Now for it, ;" said Gabriel 10 Cas-