Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-09-18
THE "HORNETS NEST"
AN HISTORICAL STORY OF LOVE
AND WAR.
BY E. P. Roe, Author Of Opening Of a
Chestnut Bnrr," Barriers Burned
Away" ETC., Etc.
copyrighted 1885, by +. p. Roe

Guilty restrained their impaticncc Under
Georges words. The bold purpose of
Burton, however, was just suited to
their fancy, and they mopnted and
rode down through the woods to the
base of the hill, so as to be in support
ing distance when the youth returned.
BE bounded away with the f~1eetness of
a deer, and gained the cornfield unob-
served.
The videttes of the enemy were scat
tered along the side of this field next
to the house, and Burton soon became
convinced that he would have to creep
up to its very edge to get within range
of the men he had selected as target.
This he could nc. do and retain a
chance of safety. While he could be
very impetuous under excitement he
was not n to do a f~oolhardy thing in
cold blood. He had about decided to
pick off one of the vidcttes and then
escape, when he saw that the whole
foragins party was about to withdraw.
IL had been unmolested. and the officer
in command relaxed his caution, called
an his sentinels and prepared to march
back to Charlotte. AS the picSets re-
tired from the edge of the corr field,
Burton 'crept up closer and closer Wig
ilantly alert to catch another glimpse
of the man with the bushy beard. After
almost despairing of seeing him again
he suddenly appeared, coming from
the house with IN armful of bedding,
which he placed upon IA wagon whose
driver yet fingered. The fellow then
cla,nbered up to arrange the stolen ar
ticles more securely. Burton, who by this
time had made his way to the last row
of corn, waited and took deliberate aim
and fired. He paused only long enough
to see the man start violently, seek to
catch hold of something. and fall head
long to the giound, then, c~rouching,
ran towards his partisan support. He
had gone but n little way before a
dozen dragons came %galloping toward
the corn after him. But his friends
were equally prompt and, under
Georges advice, spread out after en-
tering the field, SO rs to give the i'm,
preston of a large force. Rustling and
crashing through the corn their swift,
advance was like the sound of Il temp.
est. and tie British Dragons soon fled,
carrying the Iireful tidings that a mul.
ttude of Wings was upon them. The
drivers of the forage wagons whipped
up their horses, and the heavily loaded
vehicles rumLied, groaaed and bounced
along the sGc.y road. One broke down
and was abandoned. Til, English Off,
Ger drew his men together into n com,
poet body, and began a rapid retreat
Te partisans would have pursued
openly, but George checked them
knowing that this course would revea
Che smallness Of their numbers.
'Follow me-" he cried. ,'By making
snort circuit we can come upon then
about a mile from here in a small piece
of woods, and her will have more o.
less cover all the way to town. If they
see how few WE are, they'll give us the
chase, and I've had enough of sucf
chasing"
He seemed to be the natural leader,
and they all followed. In doing SC
they caught up with another band OF
partisans, in which we're the owner o.
the place and his two sons, all burning
to avenge the wrongs which they had
thus far helplessly witnessed. Away
they went like the wind, down Il wood
road, until at last they were in advance
OF the foraging party; then pushed di-
rectly into the forest. riding through a
dense growth that would have greatly
impeded others than the expert and
hardy natives Of the region. They
struck the road at a point where il
wound through a heavy timber rising
from almost impenetrable thickets.
Here George set his ambuscade, with
orders that the first volley should be
directed against the wagon drivers and
such officers as were visible.
cit should be our object to increase
the enemy's fears" he said, ''and so,
il possible, develop a first-class panic.
Here's an obscure wood leading back
into the forest. With your permission
I'll arrange you on the right of this
in three squads; the first to deliver
their fire rs | have said, and then to
gallop down the road far enough to
get q chance 20 reload. OF course
they'll make n rush for us, when the
second squad will give them a volley
and then be off in like manner When
say the word, give 'em the third vol
ley. Thus they'll get the impression
that the woods are full of us and will
be off, although they outnumber us
three to one And now" lie conclud-
ed, "silencc unit my rifle gives the or
der { O fire"
CHAPTER vi.
For a few moments the silence was
unbroken on the densely shaded and
narrow highway. The startled squir-
rels ceased their barking notes of sur.
prise and curiosity. Their keen eyes
dataotad tho poo~tioplacS forms aud sus-