Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-06-13

1
ter swing, that's all thar is o. it."
He paused, expecting to see his captive
go down on his knees and implore mercy,
but Captain Mason was firm and unmoved,
his eye meeting his enemy's without quail
ing. Finding that he made no answer, the
guerrilla added:
"What dye say Z itl'
Nothing"
eyer don't, heyan
"No; am unable to defend myself.n
"Wall, hain't yer agoin' ter begp
"No.n
''Then hang him ter once, boys string i'm
up, ! say.n
Half a dozen started toward the captive
as if they would put the threat into execu-
ton, when some one evidently high in au-
thority put stop tothe proceedings. Luke
did not know why he did so, but realized
that his fate was deferred to future time.
The arrival Ola country boy with some
alarming intelligence threw the guerrillas
into confusion, and preparations were made
for hasty departure. Luke was placed
upon horse and under a strong guard
hurried off down the road into a wild,
broken country, where the hills were so
high that they looked like mountain peaks,
and the forests were 80 donSe as 20 form
-
They halted at an old mill on a creek, and
the prisoner was given breakfast, which,
poor as it was, was heartily relished by the
half-starved soldier. Luke was the only
prisoner, and, as he had seen but two
Union soldiers dead, he concluded that the
others had made their escape
1t seemed that the guerrillas were not
quite sure OF their own safety even here.
The officers held whispered consultations,
and nodded and gesticulated in an excited
manner.
81 If they intend to murder me, why don't
they Go it and have it over with!n said the
prisoner, watching their strange maneu-
vers.
The day wore slowly by, night came, and
the prisoner grew nervous. He reasoned
that these men would choose darkness for
their diabolical work. Murderers are usu-
ally too cowardly to perpetrate their helm
Gus crimes in daylight,
At dusk the sound of horses feet com.
ing down the hill reached the ears of the
captive, who was sitting at a window of
the house that formed his prison, and he
saw q small party of Confederate cavalry
approaching the old mill The regularity
of their gray uniforms made it easy to dis
tinguish them from guerrllas
to release him, for they were outnumbered
by the guerrlllas five to one II might be
even possible that they would not care TO
interfere with these partisan freebooters.
1t was too dark for HIM 10 distinguish
faces, and when they had dsmounted and
dispersed among the buildings about the old
mill he forgot all about them.
Others were coming and going and the
subdued buzz Of voices constantly reached
his ears. His room was lark, as neither
lamp nor candle had been hghted, and the
guards at the doors and windows looked
like silent statues.
Where is heG' voice at last asked
There was something peculiarly familiar in
that voice; but Luke was unable to tell to
whom it belonged.
The sound Of footsteps approaching his
prison door reached his ears, and next
moment the same strangely familiar voice
was heard speaking 10 the guard. Some
one entered the apartment, and, coming to
Luke's side, asked:
"Ar' ye the prisnerln
II was too dark for features to be recog-
nized at even foot.
II am" the prisoner answered
Hain't We Captain Mason
lam"
asked In an undertone.
mo, though have certainly heard your
voice before"
Don't ye remember Dick Sneed, the
wounded reb at Fort Donelson, who told
We bout Captain Neff gittin' awayan
"OfcDurse remember you, but j thought
you Rtalixy wounded prisoner
II warf7t so bad hurt ez let on. l only
did that ter git away an done IT, an, I'm
here. Twas at the h6use last night when
you'uns charged it,
"And you got away
Eyes, run at the first, an wasn't seen,
except by cussed niger who run me three
times. / laid fur him an knocked him
down WI tn butt o. my gun"
Luke at once knew that the negro al.
luded to was Blackhawk, their mysterious
guide, and this accounted for his absence
which had caused their recent disaster
Did you kill himr' he asked
"Dun know for sartin, but hope did" the
Confederate growled, a. fur never saw a
devil so hungry ter kill anybody as he was
me. It war so Internal dark that couldn't
see his face, but half believe he war some
o. them black devils use ter wallup when
! war overseer."
A few moments silence ensued, and then
Luke said
"Well, Sneed, did you expect to find me
herei"
"Yes." the Confederate answered, and
lowering his voice little SO that the guard
might not overhear him, he added aCap-
tain Nef sent me ter find yen
fro BE CONTINUED