Telegram-herald., 1886-04-25
HOW A PICKET QUAHED


Das .a inl eis.iig aixlf in tte early
na.t 81 las x.ater ~ l,e- Bu - sas GA
l.essl 10 4l ~ pet Gear the hlas brek
li.saa snosn to eaalrsiss of she Army
affae p.touae A. iiaFteoosis. Hs bai
lsass.i 4ls alafe iat3 iae sise ~ piece "
sasls fam ehleh be a4d a sie~ " a large
...sa deIl g. his r9ar ta his right snort
.l.l4aee sls aaad .ea.ing - hsllsy 3
a.rt aad ans lo IS srrtntou ia the vicinity
~ sa.se eross- fo4is there hali been a. isers
umss sl.,ts df-i "a o,r Picke1s ia the night
tine ~ unseen persons g4efFi'ias which
e,ase.i oar piekeis % be more gisliAnt than
Ia t1e daylight N9t more than bali al
aair a.id slapse3 since she coulrasis whom
haI hal relieved had lelt and returned 10
TIE reserve. soaae haifmlie distant. When
Blfs -ar ellgat lhs sound of sieaiihy
gsaaas apon lhs dry lszs and dead
sase- directly iu lnc rear wheFe he vas
sasted
lt aas a eommoa thing in those DAYS. in
El1 uarr ~ t4r country FOR hogs t0 bc seen
flnaIus af large .u aud around Tie woods
eaier,l 4eafIy 1t tAe first sound ol This
tlsalIns fAat reached bis ears Bill paid little
hesti. thinking Be Nas . hog roofing The
lraFes. Presently the same Noise vas heard.
Al iaa second interruption his mare
Fncke1 4p beer ears and made an uneasy
shake af Aef bead a. Nas her custom when
ur such dufg aad any strange noise reached
ler s-rn ear 40 this uueaslness u his
Iuu1 companion bli stF0ked her silky net 4
~ assure her shat he = a. on che alert. Again
tae aase had oea.ed bat Ban bal made a
knnt I als birdie rein and piaced it over
the fsmmri OF bis -ad1le examined bis
aarblae aear thr hammer. put bis hand 90
hI. bolster CD make sure the revolver Nas in
q handy position. and assuring himself that
AL "a. right as resi ds hre-a arms. cautiously
peelet .nra The darkness on al sides in
Aoles that be might discern The intruder Of
hIs laetn~sa.
a.u vas beard the mysterious treading
sound bil pressed the sides ot his mare
with his legs. and she instantly wheeled
.githt about and iaced the woods
Hait Who csmes there Bill called
aIaud All eas as quiet as The tomb.
There sat Bal facing The woods, With a
DEADLY ainl ~ bis caFbine IN the direction
Irom shlch lar sounds bad come. feeling az
thal1h he weighed 20 pounds actual
weight l35 ami could blow any three guer-
i.ias oul oi existence. Once more be heard
those steps -o lightly crushing the twigs
sud leaves
Click went the hammer of the carbine
WhIr r-r whlr-r-ri sounded the rush Of
the unseen bodies. The mars raised herself
and struck at vacant space with her fore
feet Bill feit his hair standing on end as
d. grasped the but II his revolver. and
walled tle expected attack
The discharge ~ tie carblne had aroused
the reserve. and the sound of gallOping
horses FRET and the Changing OF sabers
against the riders spurs Bin distinctly heard
a. the reserve patrol drew nearer 20 his
rescue be could hear the pickeis on his
leff challenging the hOrsemen a. they ap-
preached their posts.
Presently he heard his nearest S0mrade
inform The sergeant that Bill bad been
shot or b. bad tired at some Id guerr-
u.a.
he bad faced the mare once again toward
the opeu leid and vas quietly laughing 90
himself ~ be stroked the head OF his faith
fiI companion
HALF Who comes there" Bill was
heard to again cs,li forth
sergeant Niih picket PATROL" was the
reply
"usmount sergeant Advance and give
the eounfersixn
This ORDER was obevsd AMI an explana-
SION made The patrol was notified % adj
vance. and when Bills comrades came 10
where thc .erEeant and Bill were they
ioufd them enjoying a hearty laugh over
the nlarm rsu-ed by a dock OF quail -
grabf ImF keaec.