The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-09-07

you, If anybody said that you were
rebels merely because you We're Tennes-
scans Wouldn't you?"
Here's one that would" said Burt
Hankins, doubling two great fists.
What's the difference, then? Here's
& man who fed from his home for fear
he couldn't keep his loyalty true, and re-
that he'd fought for the old flag in Mex
! leo, when he was a mere boy?"
The mountain men were silent
And as for his object in starting for
Knoxville, and his reason for not going
on when so near there-Illtel YOU what
will make you believe all that He
came to me more than a month ago,
when he passed through there coming
up here. Every man who comes into
/ that place is watched, and he found
Harris agents DIGGING him about. He
/ learned that | was a Jealous but quiet
Unionist, and he came to me, telling ne
precisely the same story that be told
you-not quite so much girl in it, to be
sure, for he did not have to show me the
letter-and he said he was afraid of be-
ing conscripted right there into the rebel
army. He said good deal to me about
what he did in the Mexican war, and he
gave me his true name, Just the same as
that on the envelope. And he said that
rather than raise his hand against the
flag that he had suffered and shed his
blood for, and under which the country
had become great he would die twenty
times! Yes, he said it; and you can tell
how my heart warmed to him, just as I
see that yours do now. That night got
him safely out of the city, and | did not
see him again till an hour ago, when l
found you fellows hanging him. Maybe
l.a IN M, Ia ,,
Don't you suspect Lincoln?-he's from
Kentucky, YOU know"
Now, please don't, Mr.. Brandon"
Baird cried. Were dreadful sorry for
our blunder. We'd do ANYTHING we
could to show the gentleman how bad
we feel about it, He never told us that
he saw you at Knoxville, and how you
helped him on"
ut would have done no good had |
told you" came feeble voice from the
blankets. You were determined to take
my life"
The mountaineers hung their heads
and were silent. Who shall say that
they did not suffer keenly from the con-
viction of the wrong they had done?
They looked awkwardly from Smedley
to Brandon, anxious TO speak, but unable
to command the language III which to
utter their thoughts.
Mr.. Brandon understood them, and
walked over TO where the rescued man
was sitting up.
Captain Smedley," he said, there are
no truer hearts for the Union, North,
South, East or West, than the men about
you. They have been over-hasty with
you, and they are full of sorrow for
what they have done. Now that they
/ truly know who and what YOU are, there
is not one of them but would give his
/ life TO protect you. Give them a chance
to aid you, and they would 60 hungry,
thirsty and sleepless in the effort. Try
| themi"
Smedley looked at his late would-be
| executiOners, and saw eager approval in
their faces.
Il thank YOU all" he said His voice
was returning, as well as his strength.
I'VE Will say no more about what has
I happened. | may be able to prove to
You soon that my love for the Union and
the flag does not stop with mere words"
Brandon, well pleased, turned to the
men and spoke in sharp utterances.
/ Attend to me now, all of you," he
/ said. 1T is no ordinary errand that
/ brought me up here at this time. My
/ news is so important that | would not
/ trust it to any messenger / could find.
4 your wives, and your children depended
/ upon this intelligence reaching you
/ promptly. Governor Harris command
! ant ut Knoxville has organized a cavalry
expedition to sweep and scour this part
of the CllnCh Mountains: | saw them
mastering in the streets. | counted
nearly five hundred horsemen, all armed
1 with guns, some with sabers. | believe
/ | got twenty-four hours start, vet with
4 hard riding they may reach place where
! they can strike at yOu by sunset of the
! day that has begun. Yes, 1 think they
( viii strain every nerve, for my absence
/ viii be noticed; they know me we'll, and
/ il must easily be guessed where | have
/ gone
! He paused and watched the effect of
/ his intelligence on his hearers. He saw
/ their teeth set hard and their hands
] clenched upon their gun-stocks.
What will you dor" Mr.. Brandon
/ asked.
They all looked at Wallace Baird De-
termination sat upon their hardy faces,
/ but they were naturally slow of speech
and turned to their spokesman.
I'VE all think alike, sir" said Baird.
I'VE know how to use our arms, and
| we've got enough of EN-, such as they
are. Some of US has been in small
/ brushes already since spring, and none
of us is afraid to get into a big one.
| Maybe there's secesh soldiers enough in
I Knoxville to burn these mountains ont,
/ drive away the women and children, and
script the men for rebellion. ] don't
say there amt. But before they do it,
. they've got to fight. Yes, by mighty
fights the word. How's that, boys?"
A loud and prolonged cheer shook the
roof; hats were tossed up and fists
shaken in the air. Brandon sprang on
the box, and, quiyering with excitement,
/ exclaimed:
GLORY for you, men of Clinch,-
you've said what | expected. I'm with
/ You, heart and soul; and I'm going to
fight with you, too. The war is going
right on; the time comes when Union
men can no longer hang back, but must
! take up arms That time has come for
I me; l realize what it Will mean for me
to be seen fighting among you; but I'll
stand up to the consequences. Look at
this, boys, and shout for it! Remember
that you are fighting for that, as we'll as
I for your homes and your families"
He drew a small flag from his breast
and waved it over his head The shouts
broke ont afrcsh; the mountaineers
/ crowded about hun; they yelled, sang,
tossed up their arms and pressed their
bttIutu Ups 10 Tue ensign OF tnelr
! country. Burt Hankins felt a hand on
his shoulder. He looked around and
saw Smedley.
Hand it to mel" he cried. 'Do YOU
distrust me? Let me kiss it. I'll fight
for it now among you as l fought for it
1 when l was a boy"
He was still weak, but strong arms
held him up while he saluted the flag
Approving shouts and cries greeted his
/ words and act.
Now to business. " Mr.. Brandon said.
| Baird, how many men can you muster
here 10y this noon, or about twelve hours
hence?"
The mountaineer gave rapid thought
/ and spoke as he thought:
'Some have gone off and listed in our
army; some have been snapped up and
taken away by the scoutin' secesh cav
+ airy; some are old and a few sick.
l should say forty-iye can be reached in
( time"
Good! All armed?"