Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-08-01
CHAPTER XII.
BUSHwHACKED- PRISONER

| CHAPTER XII
BUSHwHACKED-A PRISONER
The cavalcade was already some distance
down the road, and their horses feet
srlashing in the mud and water could be
but family heard.
| "Cap'n, don't We think we're gwine ter
have trouble . make it back t. camp!"
asked old Arkansaw Tom.
| 81 don't know, Tom; but think we had
better get back as soon as possible, for the
| firing has without doubt been heard all
| over the neighborhood."
"Thet's jest what l was q thir:iin',
| Cap'n," said Tom. 1.-THE country's full o.
Johnnies."
| Lets ride faster" They put their
horses to gallop, splashlng both steeds and
| riders with muddy water.
1t still lacked several hours of morning,
and the night was intensely dark, the wind
signing through the tree tops like means
| of anguish, at times driving the fine, mist
like rain in ftful gusts against the horse
men.
Its hard ter keep the powder dry"
growled Max.
eyer must,' said Tom. eyed be n .
purity pickle eff bushwhackers was ter let
inter US n powder wet"
"It's blamed fool trip" continued tae
chronic grumbler, '.sendin' fellers out here
when they can't see hands afore their faces
ter fight five ur six thousand rebs, blamed
4 faint fools work"
No amount of army discipline would keep
Max from grumbling. He seemed to have
special license to grumble, and no heed
was paid to his incessant muttering.
"Tom, do you hear the cavalry!" Luke
asked.
"No, can't hear nuthin' 'nless Max holds
his jaw"
Max took this gentle hint, and for mo-
ment ceased to berate the managers Of the
expedition, and gave the Arkansas scout ON
opportunity to listen.
"We have gone far enough to have over
taken Them" said Captain Mason, when all
had bent their ears for q few moments to
catch some sound of the retreating cavalry.
"Can't be we're on tn wrong road" said
Bill Snow.
"Lke 5 not" growled Max. "'Twould
just be our luck"
Hold yer jaw, Max; dod burn ye fur .
grumbler," growled Arkansaw Tom.
Max was neither a shirk nor a coward
when it came to duty either in the field,
|
ty to grumble had become q growing evil
81 hear 'em," SAID Tom.
"Then we are on the right road"
ayes, but we've got good ways behind,
SOMEHOW"
"Spur up: We'll ride faster"
Their horses were put to swifter gallop,
and in a few minutes more they had
caught up with the cavalry. Hearing
horses feet in their rear the cavalry sup
posed it must be pursuers, and became
alarmed
"Ealt, halt, haltr' cried voice, and it
was accompanied by half dozen carbine
shots. one or two of which whizzed most I'M
comfortably near the head of Captain Ma
son.
Hold, hold, foolsl' he shouted. "What
are you shooting at US for. Don't you
know we are frlends!"
The firing at once ceased, and Captain
Lawrence, who had been riding pretty near
ly at the head of the column, wheeled about
and galloped back to the rear.
"What means this; at whom are you
firingr' he cried.
"At we'uns, We blamed fooI!" roared
Arkansaw Tom, whose indignation scorned
military etiquette. ''Ef We don't stop it, dod
blast eff don't turn loose ON ye VII my ole
gun an make some o. ye sick at the
stomach"
"Have your men stop firing, Captain Law
renee" SAID Luke.
"An right, Captain Mason, not another
shot shall be fired. I hope no one has been
hit"
'No, thanks to their poor craftsmanship,
no harm has yet been DONE" When he had
joined the cavalry officer he asked: "Where
is the guide2'
"Was he not with youl"
ssNo."
81 haven't seen him since we made the at
tack on the house."
"Without a guide! Then how do you
know whether you are on the right course
or not!"
"Oh, OF course we are; we are or the
same main road which we came. There's
been no road to lead US off,"
s'But there's no knowing how soon we
may strike a road that will lead US off,"
81 supposed the guide was with you"
HE is not"
cam nouns seen 'im," said Arkansaw
Tom.
"Ain't we n a purity picket" muttered
tho chronic grumbler.
1--WE can't stay here long," said Captain
Mason. 'The country is filled with rebels,
and they will soon collect force ten times
our number and be after u.s."
"We'u be gobbled up sure" sighed Max.
"Take command, Captain Mason, and I
will follow wherever you lead," said Cap
tain Lawrence.
Luke Mason rode to the front, and after a
very brief delay they again started in the
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