Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-11-27

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The signalist put the message together.
and the group of officers who were standin !,
round him stood staring bianl1ly into o1e
anbther's faces, struck dumb with astonis:l-
ment and surprise.
Are you quite sure2' asked Hartog at
length of the officer who was in charge of
the signals.
The signalist-a very smart engineer
laughed.
Eyes Quite sure" he answered.
''TEen that boy carried the message to
Bootlesw Hartog exclaimed.
BY Jove!" calculated Lacy, 'san1 I've
been vigorously blackening the poor little
fellows character all day-eyewry time [
had chance. I-er-feel beastly ashamed
OF myself"
TASK again-ask who took the message,
and if he is there now? suggested Har og to
the engineer, who compiled willingly
enough, and sent the inquiry flashing across
the rapidly darkening sky, in which the
brilliant stars were beginning to shine cut
Then the reply came back in a series OF
vivid flashes:
"a boy left camp on return journey ,oith
reply before daylight"
Then the rebels have got him." Hartog
cried, excitedly. "Poor little chap, they've
got him sure enough
The news spread through the camp in
next to no time, and within half an hour,
young Houp-La he'd as many good words
spoken for him as during the day he had hal
bad ones. Everybody had something Plea
ant to say in favor of the brave little lad,
who had thus heroically risked bis life, and,
poor fellow, had probably already lost it, for.
the sake of the master whom he loved with
the fidelity of dog
As for his master, he went straight to the
colonel and asked, with strange huskiness
in his throat and blaze in his blue ewes,
that searching party might be sent out at
once, and as far as was safe, in case tn, lad
had been disabled and could not reach tn.
camp.
Certainly, certainly-and go yourself, if
you care to do it, Ferrers," said the colonel,
hurriedly, brushing his hand across his eyes.
go yourself, if you care to do it. l have
much pleasure in returning your sword. I
am sure sincerely hope the lad has come
to no harm. 'Pon my soul, he is the hero
of the campaign-pon my soul he is" and
then the kindly colonel shook his favorite
by the hand, and brushed the other across
his eyes once more.
BOTTLES said ''Thank you, SIR and went
out without another word, chiefly because
CQere was lump Ills CurOdU winch made
speech difficult
1t was not long before a party was ready
to start, with Bottles at its head, to search
for the missing boy. Nor was it very long
before they found him-perhaps a mile from
the rebel outposts-lying behind a clump of
trees, faint and CHASTITY pale, his mouth
parched and dry, and his sharp, young face
drawn and distorted with pain.
BOTTLES was the first to hear his moan. and
turned the light of the bull s-eye he carried
upon the place whence the sound came In
another moment he was down upon his
knees beside the prostrats form of the half
unconscious boy
Young Houp-La vaguely recognized his
master as he tenderly raised his head upon
his arm.
"Water." he gasped painfully.
Bottles filed the Dup which formed this
lower half of his flask with water, which one
of the searchers had brought, AID held it to
the poor parchei lips Itsaemed to putne
life into him. for he lifted his head and
looked wildly round.
''Tell the capt'n got there SAFE The an
swer is in my wes'coat pocket. 1 couldn't
get back as we'll One O them Arab devils
ported me. I crawse1 as fairs I could, but
l couldn't get no, further, though | see the
camp lights jes' ahead" Then he perceived
that Boobies was bending down over him,
his kind face convulsed with grief and emo
ton.
'Is that you, sirF' he said, in a tone Of
gentle relief and satisfaction ''Don't take
on about me, sir. I amt worth it,
"Where are you burt, my boy?' Bottles
asked in a choking voice.
''Some where about the groin, sir. It's no
use trying to move me,n seeing that two Of
the men had opened stout blanket and
were preparing to receive him. cts all
over with me now. Don't you put yourself
out about me, sir I amt worth it."
TRY and drink a drop of this" said
Bottles holding the cup once more to his
lips. 1t had brandy in it this time
"It amt no good, SIR he persisted, but
he swallowed the brandy and water and
then they raised him very gently and lifted
him on to the rug Not so gently though,
but that he groaned and moaned piteously
rrfSt. "AS tss.-, oIItr orffT,o1 O1 IIIuo ue1rilm
again, talking wildly all the way back to
camp of the success of his expedition, and
camp, who had received the dispatch from
him, had patted him on the shoulder and
had called him brave lad, and babe him
God speed and safe return.
And then, when at last they got him into
camp and on to an ambulance cot, he came
to his own senses again for little time, and
babe them send for the colonel that he might
give the dispatch into his own hanls.
YOU'RE not angry, sir?' he said, implor-
ingly, as the colonel took the pape~. II
knew the capt'n couldn't go safe where L
could, and I thought as low it wouldn't
matter so much if aught happened to me.
You're not angry with me, are you, sir?"
mo- my boy, certainly not" answered
the colonel, huskily. you are the bravest
lad in the army. I am proud of you, very
proud"
Tom Snow drew himself up as straightly
as he could against his masters breast,
where he had been lying ever since they put
him down upon the bed, and endsavorel to
salute the commanding officer. Il got
there" he said looking round at the faces
about him, 'and I got back ome again. 1t
don't any of it matter now," and then he
slipped off again and wandered on about the
heat and the glare of the sunshine, of his
awful thirst, and the pain of his wound. Al
last he tried to turn his head round to LOOK
a. Bottles.
care you there, sir?" he asked, in clear
and sensible voice.