Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-10-25

The thing that worried John in regayd to
this trip was how to be positive TINT the
bushwhackers were in camp.
This puzzled him until darkness setin on
the second day after the arrival of their new
friends, when he saw, to the southwest OF
the Cross Hollows Road, large Gre throw
ing its light brightly into the heavens
above ii.
"There they are again, said Henry, as he
pointed in the direction of the fire.
"Yes," said John, I'VE know they are not
at home now, at any rate.
"Marse John, less go for do Holler Road.
Deys boun ter take dat road in order ter
git tor de ribber.
That's agood idea jeff; Wen go. Henry
and Mr.. Dorm will guard the house, and Mr..
Gum and jeff and will go to .the Cross
Hollows Road, and meet the rascals as they
go on down to their camp"
Henry objected to the plan, but John
would insist on his staying at the residence;
SO he reluctantly consented, and the
three men hurriedly saddled their horses
and were soon on their way to the road that
led to the river. They were not long in
reaching point at which they left their
animals securely tied in thick cluster of
trees. They then went on foot until they
got to place about hundred wards below
where the roads united The reason they
selected that particular locality was because
they could see the bushwhackers when they
left the Wire Road in going down, and an
other reason was that here the valley WAS
not over fifty feet broad, and afforded an
excellent opportunity to get in sure work AT
the proper time
Five minutes passed, and then ten, but
no person came in sight. A half-hour went
slowly by, and our friends began to be i'm
patient Forty-tiv minutes had fled and
There they come!" whispered John.
As the others looked. they saw body of
men slowly and quietly filing along. They
reached the Hollows Road. but kept right
on past ii and up the Wire Road.
Our friends looked at each other in sur
prise. This was turn in affairs that was
unexpected.
Il know what the scoundrels meant"
John exclaimed, Follow me and we'll yet
beat them at their little game"
Getting their horses they rode slowly
hitter the men that had preceded them.
They would occasionally see the crowd in
the distance, but they kept far in the rear,
and as much as possible in the shadows,
that they might not be discovered. When
they had turned the corner that showed the
road clear for some distance in front of the
mansion, they saw that the gang had halted
few hundred yards beyond.
They were crowded together in mass,
and appeared to be consulting. After a lit
tie time spent in the road, they vanished
into h;d the woods t. that led to back of the
They all now knew that az s,nansion was
once more to be assailed VA
w Then the fbraa ynar, &..sN o,,r,oo;ta fba
in their horses. The gIe was then closed,
the men crossed the road, in the
shadow of the trees, went past the man
sion until they had arrived at the spot
where the bushwhackers had left the road
when they hastily crossed it, and making a
detour came up so that the rear of the great
building was easily seen through the trees.
A few dark forms could be seen fitting
about in the dim light, and our friends
knew they We're up to some devilish
scheme
A bunch of men not ton yards away could
be seen, and John determined to try and
get near them. Taking the shadows of
friendly trees, the three men stealthily
crawled forward until they had reached a
pile OF dead brush only few yards dis
ant from the six men, who were awaiting
VAN uSoAOA VI COiliuuGS, WHO HOW
could be seen sneaking close up to the
building.
1--WE 'uns tried to burn up the ours.
tother night but the rain KEN aud put out
Their fire for us. Goramighty, how it
tained!" said one of the gang.
us the Capting fixin' ther charge, or is it
Woodsley?" inquired another.
Its the Capting, and he'll blow the devil
outen the ole ranch, was the reply.
John reached over and whispered in
Gunn's ear take the left one;" then
turning to jeff he whispered. stake the
right hand one, and raised his own gun.
What n the deuce is that? | heerd a
bush snap!" said one of the gang.
20. yer skeered! Yer afeard-
But tho seteecn sawn never finished,
for the reports of three guns resounded
through the woods, and three men fell in
q heap on the ground, mortally wounded.
AS soon as the smoke arose so that the
aim was sure, two more shots were given
them, and then those that were able fled pre-
Inamoment more four men were
seen running toward our friends. When
they arrived at the spot where their COM
rades had been, and they saw the forms ly-
ing before them, they seemed dazed
Once more the three guns belched forth
their fire and metal, aud two more of the
bushwhackers dropped in their tracks, and
the other two fled with the speed of the
wind toward the road.
lTo BE CONTINUED