Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-22

may strike road that will lead us off."
 "I supposed the guide was with you"
 t'He is not"
 'An' nouns seen 'im," said Arkansaw Tom.
 ''Ain't we n purity picklee, muttered the chronic grumbler.
 ''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 us"
 "We'll be gobbleG up sure," sighed Max
 "Take command, Captain Mason, and will follow wherever you lead," said Cap tain Lawrence.
 Luke Mason rode to tho front, and after a very brief delay they again started in the direction they supposed the fort to be. Luke was wondering why Blackhawk had deserted them. Was 1t because he was q traitor after all, and had led them into the enemys country and deserted him. Black hawk had been mystery ever since he had first set eyes upon him, when a boy, years ago.
 Somehow he had always seemed to pos. sess some wonderful power over him, and he used when but a child to shudder when he saw him watching him from his great yellowish buckeyes. Blackhawk was an enigma. Why did he disappear so sudden. ly? Why did he re-appear at such unex. pected times and placess Why was it that he seemed to be everywhere, and at the same time, to know every thing, every place and every bodya
 Slowly they groped their way, through darkness, mist, drizzle and fog. Luke was not long in realizing that return in that darkness was impossible. They missed the road, wandered out of their course, and came upon a collection of houses, which might pass for the "Deserted Village" After short council of war it was deter mlned to pass the night here.
 They had brought one of the wounded men with them, and he was so weak by this time that he was unable to ride further They earned him into one of the deserted houses and laid him on the floor, where he died before morning. During the remainder of the night the soldiers remained huddled together in three of the deserted houses, listening to the pattering of the rain upon the shingles and the expiring groans of their dying comrade.
 Luke Mason regards this as tho most miserable night of his army life. He was in an old hut, and worn out with fatigue and anxiety sat shivering and dozing upon the ground. The roof was full of holes, and the driZzle which finally assumed the form of a cold rain sent the water drip, drip dripping through the rather loose boards Tn hundred different places Although he again and again selected a position where he hoped to be out of the leak, yet ere he had long been in his new place the cold water came drip, drip, dripping down upon him, entering his collar, and gliding down his back.
 But the long, dreary night came to an end, and with the coming of the morning the rain ceased, though it was still cloudy, cold and clustering.
 "Now, Captain, where do you say we are?" asked Captain Lawrence.
 "We must be about twelve miles from the fort''
 ''Yes, and in the worst kind of rebel hot-bed."
 The commander of the expedition knew thls, and as soon as he could got his force in motion. They had gone about mile in the direction of Fort Donelson when they entered narrow lane. On hill stood large two-story farmhouse, with at least dozen doors and windows facing the road It stood on the left, while on the right was large barn.
 The anxious soldiers spurred their faded horses onward, depending on the advanced guard, which had already passed the house, to warn them of danger.
 The column was directly between the house and barn when suddenly shot from a cluster of bushes in the yasd was heard. Instantly every door and window became volcano from which tkere issued smoke. flame, fire and death. Bullets and buck shot whizzed like hail about the troops.
 Men fell, horses reared, plunged and be- came unmanageable, and, while Luke was trying to rally his men, his own steed, pierced by dozen bullets, fell against the fence.
 In vain Captain Mason tried to disengage his feet from the stirrups, the horse rolled over, and the young officers head struck some hard substance with such force as to render him lnsensible.
 When he cagained consciousness he found hlmself Surrounded by fierce guer rillas, helpless prisoner.