The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-07-29
YOUNG HORNETS OF THE
HORNETS NEST.o
AN HISTORICAL STORY OF LOVE
AND WAR.
BY E. p. ROE.
CHAPTER II. Continued.
AN HEROIC DEED.

BY E. p. ROE,
CHAPTER II. Continued.
AN HEROIC DEED.
Colonel Davies experienced eye saw that
the time for final retreat had now come
Before the enemy could rally from the
stunning effects of this third repulse he
drew off his men and retired rapidly by
the great Salisbury Road Major Graham,
whose small force was made up chiefly
from the neighborhood was ordered to
cover this retreat as far as possible, and
so began running fight which, with oc-
casional respites did not end until the
next day.
George Graham acted as his brothers
aid, and Burton and Angus aimed to keep
as near the major as they could during
the next eventful hours. The gallant
young officer had won their unbounded
admiration and they felt that under his
immediate eyes and direction they could
do the most effective service, while at the
same time learning soldiers duty from
a master. Little was left for them during
the remaidder of the night beyond the
tatics of the Indians. They knew the by
paths, the crossroads, the position of nat
ural strength, where one man was worth a
dozen in the billy, wooded region through
which passed the main highway. Skirting
this they kept in deep shadows. and from
behind tree, bush, and rock, their rifles
flashed out. If the enemy made rush
toward the spot they were not there. Like
swift shadows, they had sped on through
the dusky forest, found time to load again
and nhnSn ~ bar &c
retreat leading from it. Then as the stub
born enemy approached they would blaze
away and be Off Thus their British pur-
suers were harassed in front and on both
TANKS, and their march was impeded.
Their cavalry made dashes here and there
only to be entangled in what seemed an
empty wilderness. Finally, there appear
ed to be no other resource than for the in
fantry to advance as rapidly as possible
with tiankers in the woods on each side of
the road and so to drive the singing,
wasp-like partisans before them. This,
from superiority in numbers they could
easily do, but only at constant loss and
annoyance.
They had skirmished up long hill to
its very brow and then Major Graham Or
dered his bugler to sound swift retreat.
George, with small detachment, in which
were our friends, was posted here, with or
ders to wait the near approach of the en-
envy, to give them volley, then to strike
directly into the woods and let
his men make their way, singly
or by twos and threes to the brow
of the next hill. The major having given
his instructions galloped away after the
rest of his force.
Angus and Burton determined to keep
together, and, after delivering their fire,
to escape by an obscure path which they
had discovered leading to the right from
the highway.
The British, hearing the bugle recall
and respited from the dropping, CALLING
fire which had thus far attacked their ad-
vance, came on rapidly. George Graham
held mis- dogs of war in leash too long per-
haps. They gave their volIey and it was
effective, and at the same time it revealed
but small and concentrated force. So
far from checking the deeply incensed en-
envy they came on with rush in the hope
of at last striking those who had so long
punished them. The Wing partisans
scattered, but pursuers were on their heels
Angus led the way through the path that
had been decided upon and Burton and
George Graham followed. Although they
tried to spur forward at reckless speed the
roughness and obscurity of the path
enabled vindictive enemies to gain upon
them.
"Dismount, turn the horses loose and
switch them with CAD. We must take to
the bush on foot" said George rapidly,
setting the example of his own action.
The horses plunged forward down the
side of the hill; the three friends had
scarcely time to creep into a thicket be
fore half dozen British soldiers went run
ming and stumbling by. Then one of
them caught glimpse of horse and
fired. A neigh of pain showed that the
pressed more holly.
A moment later George whispered,
"Creep, crawl, snake away. Now's our
chance. There'll be more here SOON"
His words we're true enough. The shot
brought dozen more down the path, but
the young partisans had been hunters be-
fore they became soldiers, and they crept
away almost from under the feet of their
enemies who, intent upon the pursuit of
rider,ess horses, passed noisily by. At last
the boys ventured to stand erect and dodge
from tree to tree and bush to bush until
they felt sufficiently secure to stop and re-
load their rifles.
"We're in a Lice scrape now," said Bur-
ton, II feel good deal like landed fish
without my horse"
"We were in worse scrapea few min
utes ago." replied George, cody. 1--WE
can't do any good by taking risks here any
longer. The major says. "A mans fool
who takes useless risks Our course is to
work far enough to the right to make sure
we are beyond those fellows after our hor-
ses and see if there's any chance of our
catching 'em again. If there isn't we
must not lose a minute in reaching yon-
der hilltop, where the majors going to set
an ambush"
"George is right" said Angus. IF we
are cut off from the main body there won't
be much chance for US after daylight with
out our horses. Tired as we already are
the enemy would soon run us down if they
caught sight of u.s."
In obedience to this view they had
struck out stealthily and rapidly on the
right of those that had followed them. 1t
had been discovered that the horses we're
riderless, and the pursuers were spreading
out fan-fashion and beating the woods in
tho hOna of canturinu tho diSmounted