Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-28
THE "HORNEl'S NEST
AN HISTORICAL STORY OF LOVE
AND WAR.
BY Z. P. Roe, Author of Opening Of a
Chestnut Burr Barriers Burned
Away" ETC., Etc.
copyrighted 1886, by E.P. Roe.l

hayior. Conceal yourselves on this
road. fire a shot If the enemy APP
proaches and gallop in. | will send
you some breakfast as soon as it is
ready. 1 intrust myself and men TO
your vigilance"
Again Burton laughed grizzly when
they were left alone, and said: "a
great honor, surely, but it doesp't fill
an empty stomach. How do you like
soldering, GusP"
otis not % question of like or dislike.
4 reckon, though. that | never felt so
tired and hungry before. fear moth
erIl be half beside herself about u.s.
al foresee," continued Burton, ''that
our friends will have to get used to all
sorts of irregulsrity in our coming and
going. What wen do and where wen
Zoe viii depend more on the enemy han
upon ourselves"
"One thing is already certain
added George, "we shall have to sleep
as often in the woods as in our beds.
You two stay here and III 60 II hun
dred yards down the road nearer the
enemy. My horse is in the best condi-
zion, while yours, Angus, has BLEED so
Much that you must try to pick up an
ether beast as 500 as you can. Ride
him up and down before me II Bit
Angus did so, and with every step
the blood oozed from a wound in one
of the poor animals launches. George
wrote u few lines in - notebook, tore
ont the sheet and said: Take THAT to
any brother"
ssBut, George" protested the boy,
sfbe major told me"
4eObcy ORDERS" said George, sternly.
$SYou are under my command now.
The line I've written will make every
thing right. Report to my brother as
soon rs possible"
Angus yielded reluctantly. When
he had gone, Burton asked, What did
you writer"
81 told Joe that Gus horse was
wounded, and that if the enemy came
With u rush, as they probably will, we
might lose one of the finest and most
promising young fellows in the coun-
try. He is younger than either Of us,
but we shall have to look to ourselves
or he'll make the best soldier. Screen
yourselves behind this low pine and be
all eyes and ears. Ill 90 back on the
road. as l said" and they separated.
For nearly half an 'hour all remained
quiet, and then a ma came %galloping
down the road from the plantation
with a cup of coffee and some hoe
cake. Never was meager breakfast
more welcome than this slight repast
to the young vidottes, who nevertheless
did not relax their vigilance. Again
they were left alone. and for "A time
aothing disturbed the morning quiet
along the road excepting The barking
VI squirrels in the hickories. Then the
sharp report Of Georges rifle awoke
the echoes far and near. A second
later he came galloping toward Bur-
ton. sheered in behind the pine and
said:
'sRide to the major and say the ene-
ay is coming; that I've seen only in.
fantry so far, and that I'm going to
sta ike into the woods and ~reconnoiter
further before | come in"
Burton obcyed instantly, and was re,
ioiced to see that the partisan troop
was already saddling up rs he APP
preached. Major Graham heard the
,<oport thoughtfully. and turned his
eyes on his refreshed and inspirited
sAen. who. without waiting for the bu-
gje-call, were trotting sharply forward
20 the open space in front of the house.
Turning to two or three of his officers
Ire said, George has seer only infan-
try. If they have no cavalry with
them. I'd like to give 'em another
brush. We could ride away from them
when pressed"
s'Let us sting 'em a little anyway"
cried Col. Fink Locke, who, waving
dis rank and the reputation won in a
former battle, was now a Jealous vol
unteer under Graham.
A low bugie call fastened the fast
assembling troopers, and another dis
tant shot was heard from the woods in
1BG uiIttllph Vi tlic tHeHly. pOOli alltT
"a horseman appeared and rode rapidly
across the fields.
'It's George" said tho major, rid
ing forward to meet him. The brothers
conferred q few moments, and then the
major, returning to his men, gave a
few rapid orders, and the whole troop
txotted OFF toward the valley, which
could be followed back into the woods
sgain.
Angus had been kindly received and
the owner OF the plantation. ut the sug-
gestion of the major, had furnished
another horse, telling the boy that he
could pay when he could, if ever, add
ing: "If you don't take him the Brit
ish will" Therefore, the lad was
enabled to join his friends, and with
George and Burton, rode near the
maior.
Why haven't the Britishers come on
faster, G~eorge?" Burton asked.
II played Il trick on 'cm. WHOM !
Jeff you aud struck into the woods l let
Az. - - g..