Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-13
CHAPTER V.
FRTENnC nn rNFMTrG

1t was not until he had resumed his march
at the head Of his company that Captain
Mason began to blame himself for not hay
ing asked the name of the fair rebel who
had so strangely impressed him. The peo-
pie at the house were probably new corners,
for he had few years before known almost
every one in this part of the country. But
absence at college, and then in another
State, had permitted time to work won
drous change IN the old familiar land.
marks. He was marching along with head
bowed, lost in painful reverie, oblivious tc
the heavy tread of two hundred feet behind
him, when a voice suddenly said:
"Massa, why didn't ye burn dat houser
He looked up, and to his intense amaze
ment he saw the negro, Blackhawk, bare
headed and bare-footed, tramping along al
his side. Blackhawk had an odd way Of dis
appearing and appearing when least ex
pected. He seemed to have the faculty OF
being anywhere in a moment.
''Blackhawk, what are you doing here?'
he asked; shave you run away from your
master!
''No, sab; jest thought I'd foller ye;
mebbe We might need me-"
"Do you know the people at chat house
Blackhawkf' asked the young Captain, fix
ing his keen blue eyes on the negro. Black
hawk recoiled strangely, as If he had
suddenly been touched with c hot iron. The
Captain, puzzled at his strange demeanor
repeated the question.
Eyes, massa; knows 'em,n he ssid; ''dey
is all secesh."
''What is their namep'
Morgan, massa; dat gals ladder an
brudder am bof in dc rebel army, an
'twould saryed UNI right TO bu'nt dere
house, but I'm glad ye didn't do It."
'Whyl"
''Jes cause I'm glad you didn't. Some.
body orter do t an some 'un will, mebbe. ~
Look here, you black rascal, if l hear OF
you burning any houses pilhave you shot,
''De good Lord bless yoC, uassa, won't,
decd won't"
The Captain walked On with his head
bowed trying to make out the character OF
the negro. He had been the slave OF Mr..
Nef for twenty years, and he had known
him ever since boylood, but there had al
ways seemed to be some deep mystery con.
nected with him. There was something in
his nature unfathonable. When next he
looked for Blackhawk he had vanished.
AS the little army advanced their mum
bers continued to hourly increase, until they
had over thousand men, with indifferent
arms and still more Indifferent discipline.
Cairo was forty miles away when they re-
ce;ved information that JEFF Thompson.
with force of rebels far superior to their
own, was between them and their haven
of safety. Colonel Richard Oglesby, with a
splendid Illinois regiment, was somewhere
in their neighborhood, but, despite every eff
fort made on the part OF Colonel Smart, he
found 1t impossible to communicate with
HIM.
Among the recruits received on the march
were about two hundred mounted men,
whom they used as scouts and forsgers
Captain Henry Smart had been chosen
Colonel, but as yet no commissions had
been granted any of the officers, owing &c
some disagreement between the Governo,
and General Fremont. Colonel Smart had
all the officers Of the regiment summoned tc
his headquarters one morning, and, with 8
face that was very earnest, said:
Boys, we're goin' to smell gunpowder
before the dag is done. The rebels are abou,
three miles from here on farm, and waitin
70 cut US Of
How many are they In number?n one o.
the officers asked.
"Don't know; but they're reported about
three thousand strong"