Crawford avalanche., 1886-07-01

negroes trying to reach our lines. He sale
his boy knew OF path through the woods
a cow-path, starting some distance back
and he thought they could get me through
all right.
assented to following their lead. w,
turned back, going slow that the boy nigh
find the path, which he soon did--the wors
one i ever saw, and had been all through
the Rockies, finding naught to compare
with that cow-path in Western Tennessee
We travelled single file-I in the rear
After three or four miles we came 10 9
stream. We could not see what il was, bu
1 knew by its noise that it was quite river
| The boy said IL was ordinarily q
small creek, but now was swollen
by recent rains. He did not like to
cross first, as he could not swim. was toe
anxious to proceed to stand upon ceremony
and pushed forward. The stream was not
over twenty feet wide, but deep and rapid.
L was carried down stream some little dis
tance before effecting landing. The
banks were rough and rocky, and lined by
huge piles of driftwood. L finally worked
my way out, but the darkies could not be
induced to try it.
Getting from the boy directions as best ]
could, by talking across the stream, as to
my route, l found the country succession
of hills, hollows, and a second large creek.
which my horse swan readily, but could
not again find the path. Upon the prairies
of Iowa tho loss of such a path would mean
but little, but in this God forsaken wilder
ness, without knowing which was north,
| south, east, or west, nor which way / want
ed to go, it meant much. After stopping
| for a few moments, until had come to
| fully realize the predicament l was in,
started forward, giving my horse rein, and
letting him pick his way.
In q few minutes he struck the path, and
ut little distance farther on we came TO a
travelled road. l heard dogs barking and
other signs of life. IL was n considerable
distance before came in sight of a house,
but finally could see one, and lights shin
ing through the windows.
Lights shining through window are of
all things most welcome TO lost, tired,
hungry night wanderer, when associated
with peaceful welcome. But when those
lights have lost their peaceful welcome and
assumed q hostile guise, they are of all
things most unwelcome.
l was moving cautiously toward this
house when / became aware that it stood ut
some distance to the right of the road, and
began to hope to pass unseen, but hardly
had that hope dawned when it was de-
stroyed by voice ringing out upon the
night air the unwelcome command:
"Haltp
1 was just opposite the house and an
swered the challenge by asking who they
were.
They answered "Halt and dismount,' or
they would fire.
1 gave my horse the spur, and he bounded
nimbly away. But / came near being
cfnnna1 hu fur lorera I,,n
in the thigh. L kept my seat, clinging
closely to my horses neck, and if ever
horse did nobly his very best it was my
little black PAGER upon this occasion. Shot
after shot whistled by my head, and the
genuine rebel yell sounding in our rear
gave to horse and rider the determination
to do the very best in us for dear life. The
little horse worked nobly. How his IRON
clad hoofs kept time in rapid measure as
they struck fire on that rocky mountain
road. Occasionally fred my pistol at my
pursnersii bgt gia rs Gopld AQbsea tebyae ISt4ps
them to shoot, desisted. / now gave my
whole energy TO coaxing and petting and
praising my horse. / called him by every
pet name 1 had ever given him. l inn
plored him to save me from those yelling
devils galloping after me, and the little
fellows feet kept right on like q tireles ma
chine-one, two, three, four-one, two,
three, four-one, two, three, four
and repeat, in exact rhythmic rapid
time, and the yelling hounds behind
followed, shooting into the darkness as
they came.
Time passed. 1 was getting rapidly over
the ground. The little black was good met
tie, fleet-footed, and his continuous and
rapid pace had flung the miles behind us
raOsIlu How rrOnH fhok tun fhraa
four sounded. How it awoke the night
echoes in that forest. l almost began to
enjoy it.
Nobly, nobly, my little black, and just
then felt him cringe. i knew that he was
hit at last; knew that he soon must fail in
that rapid musical four beats to- a measure
which had for the last heIr been so heroic
ally maintained. l saw that he was begin
ming to fail. There was perceptible slow
ing of the hoof- beats. Ny heart began to
sink Daylight was strealxing the eastern sky.
My pursuers were rapidly gaining upon
me. could hear their horses breathe and
their feet behind me. They were rapidly
riding up. There are score of
them. 1 was just thinking all
is over, am captured, when
volley of musket balls, passing directly
over my head, was poured into them, and
heard the ringing notes of a bugle calling
to a charge.
Great Godi what change. There was
the old flag. | was i'm camp of my friends,
and my late pursuers, not already shot dead,
were now riding for their lives, as moment
ago was l. The change was too sudden. /
tainted in the saddle.
When / again became conscious was
lying on the ground; my horse stood pant
ing few steps away, and Lieutenant Eddie,
believing me badly hurt, was bending over
me. As soon as he saw that / was con-
scious he saluted me, and told me who he
was. Rather n close call, comrade," said
| ho.-"W o wore in the nick of time; oro you
much hurt?"
l answered that was but little hurt, a
shot or two in the leg, but about tired out
all night in the saddle. Il thought your
bugle the sweetest music ever heard Did
you get any Of themY"
"Oh, yes; several lie out there in the road
and the boys are after the rest.
The recall was then sounded.
/ then got up and walked to my poor
horse. shot had struck him in the hip.
He was completely used up.
| "Hcllo, here they come"
| This remark indicated the return of the
pursuers of the Johnnies who had been
| giving me my recent twelve-mile chase.
! They brought sixteen prisoners, some oil
them quite badly wounded.
The sun was now rising-a foggy morn
ing.
/ told my errand TO Lieutenant Eddie
and asked him for the horse of some one OF
the prisoners. lie told me TO look among
them and take my choice. / chose that OF
the Captain of the squad. lie used some
bad language when ordered TO dismount
Il.