Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-05-02
your sabre and strike hard

your sabre ana strike hard
The other ,,t.aG 49, try it. though he
was brave inHn. lfd t..crc ore kept ais
place as the scott dashed forward. Mel
rose rode straight al the men with drawn
sabre, md the vollay they fined went over
him. lie struck the line sabred a man as
he passed and soon re Joined the column.
Ills companion was never heard OF again.
probably being murdered in cold blood.
In 1864 Merose and three other foragers
were captured in the Shenandoah Valley
taken to small encampment, and the foup
piaced in a log house under guard until
their cases could be disposed Of They
talked the situation over and the bravest
of them could see no hope of escape. Mel
rose quietly listened to their discouraging
remarks, and as quietly replied that he
would be inside of the Union lines before
midnight. There wns a circle of sentinels
around the building, which had no door.
The sentinels paced within six feet Of the
building, and the one in front could see the
prisoners through the doorway. Melrose
said that if all would rush together the sem
tinels would be confused and either hold
their fire or fire wild The three men had
participated in more than twenty battles,
and were known as brave fellows, but here
they needed nerve, and nerve was what
they hadn't got. Il
"Very well-I will 60 alone " was the
quiet announcement, and as night came on
Melrose was ready. Standing in the door
way he asked the sentinel what time it was.
"You git back thar or I'll shoot /" was
the prompt reply.
Yes-i'm going right back said the
scout, and he dashed upon the man, hit
him a stunning blow, and made for the
woods. He had to run across an open field
in full sight of camp. and though it was
dusk, he could be seen quite plainly for
half the distance. More than fifty shots
were fred at him, and then pursuit began,
but he reached the woods and made his es.
cape. u
He was one day scouting up the valley,
having on a mixed uniform, when he sudden
ly came upon two ferocious- looking gueril-
las, while eros sing thick wood. They were
seated on log, backs to him, but at the
sound Of his step they sprang up and COW !
cred him with their carbines. IL would
have been bold to bolt and take the chances
of being hit. Melrose never slackened his
pace nor changed countenanoe, but walked
directly up to the men and quietly said: !
+" I've got news for the Colonel, and !
want you both to 30 along and show me the
way. Il
"Who said 40 ?" asked one Of the men.
" If j miss the way tbere'n be row, for
this is important news" he answered. "a.
''Wno be your"
-. Come alnne ora-aal- tho CoIeneA M n----If
Swell. we amt going to tramp clear uY
thar. You go down to the road, foller 10
for mile, and when you come to the old
log stable on the right turn into the blind
road" At
''Why can't one of you come alongP"
"Oh you can't miss the way. We are
watching here for game"
Melrose slouched off in lazy, tired man
ner. He had got about fifty teet when he
heard them cock their guns. He did not
turn his head or quicken his pace.
He's Yank--shoot him " called ono
of the men; but the scout walked on.
They were trying him, but he had the nerve
of Napoleon, and he kept his leisurely
pace untA VOL away from their neighbor-
b oJ. .-Uet brte I,rpss