The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-12-13

blessed chance OF being Popped on oy one
OF Mosby's men at any moment"
"You'll have fighting enough before you
are through, you young IDIOT" Harry said,
sternly, but there was kindly CLEAN in his
eye, for Gordon Grey had been one Of his
pupils, and when the lad had run away and
enlisted he had promised his heart-broken
mother that he would look after her boy.
"We've been so long doing nothing"
the boy complained.
"What with Bull Run, and"
Gordon Grey interrupted him with bit
ter laugh.
"Aye, there was fun enough in running
away. ] wonder how your father swal-
lowed that nauseous dose, Harry"
"Oh, Nell wrote me that he was pretty
wild over it; volunteered 10 shoulder
musl1et, and drove mother into fits Of de-
spair BIZ his martial ardor, but luckily for
the peace Of the family his age was against
him, and he still has TO stop at nome and
take care of the women
"While we play hide and seek on these
wild mountains with Mosby's fellows. This
is not war; it isl
"Silence in the ranks Haltp'
The command cut off the boys complaint.
In a moment each horse and man was IS
still as statue.
The lads querulousness was not alto
gether groundless; Tor, until Hooker's ar
rival, the cavalry had simply done duty in
scouting and thanking. There had been a
tedious time of drill when camped on NC
ridian Hill a weary march through Alex
andria to Culpepper, monotonous winter
quarters and a sharp engagement at Bran
dy Station. Their main duty had been sklr-
mishing and picketing, with occasional en-
counters with Mosby's irregulars, for TINS
extraordinary man had already made HIM
self famous as q guerrilla chief. Tales OF
his daring effrontery were told round the
camp-fires with many exaggerations by
men who believed he bore u charmed life
II seemed impossible TO lay hands on him.
Hardly had tho Federal troops recovered
from the establishment OF rash attack OF
the bold sltirmisher and prepared to chas-
tise him, than they heard of another equally
daring feat of his six miles away.
Lcaping from his horse, the Lieutenant
beckoned Harry to follow him on foot TO
cluster Of trees from whose shelter they
could command a view OF the valley beneath
them.
What sight met their gaze. A score OF
Mosebys men were fastening long wires &c
the rails of the Manassas railroad, which
they had detached from the sleepers. Then
object was apparentat glance. Alreadyir
the distance could be heard the numbering
sound of an approaching supply train, aud
even as Harry looked, the Confederates had
hidden in the neighboring bushes, wires IL
hand, ready for the derailing of the cars.
"Ouickl, whispered Lieutenant Barclay
"Send trooper back 70 the command,
"for, il our fellows charge up the valley,
they will bag the lot Of them"
In minute, at Harry's bidding, Gordon
Grey was dashing at headlong speed over
the broken path.
Meanwhile the heavy train crept nearer
to the fatal ambush. No need for conceal
ment now. Though the leader knew that
the woods were full of foes, the gallant little
band rode recklessly down into the valley,
but ere they could reach the scene OF the
disaster the doomed engine was flung from
the rails, and the enemy was swarming over
the broken cars, so intent on the work OF
plumber that they hardly noticed the charge
of the little troop of heroes, foremost OF
whom was Harry Winthrop.
1t was an unequal contest and could have
had but one ending when, with wild cheer,
a squadron Of cavalry came laundering TO
the rescue. Mosby's men, as usual, when
outnumbered, fled TO the woods with the
Federal troopers hard at their heels. One
man Of them, who had been leading spirit
at the train-wrecking, separated himself
from the rest and boldly rode down the
valley; and burying his spurs in his horses
flanks Harry Winthrop sped after him.
Both pursuer and pursued were well-mount-
ed, and nearly two miles were passed with
out any perceptible lessening or increas-
ing difference of the hundred yards
which separated them. Over and over
again Harry could have brought the
fleeing enemy down with his carblne,
but he saw that the man had fired his last
round Of ammunition and was defcnseless
but for his sword, aud he chivalrously re-
solved TO trust to his skill and strength to
capture him on equal terms. And fortune
favored him; for the Confederatc's horse
stumbled and fell, and in n minute the young
Northerner had his hand on the throat and
his knee ON the chest Of bis PROSTATE enemy.
But his triumph was only momentary
How or whence the blow came which struck
him to the earth he never knew, there was