Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-09-25
CHAPTER V.
FRIENDS or ENEMIES.


1t was not until he had resumed his march
at the head OF his company that CAPTAIN
Mason began 20 blame himself for not hav.
ing asked tho name Of tho fair rebel who
hi1d SO strangely impressed him. The peo-
pc at the house were probably new Corners.
FOR he had few years before known almost
every one III tins part of the country. But
absence at college, and then in another
state had permitted time to work a won
crous change IN tho old familiar land
marks. He was marching along with head
bowed, lost in painful reverie, oblivious 10
the heavy tread Of two hundred feet behind
him, when voice suddenly caid:
''Massa, why didn't yo burn dat housel',
lie looked up, and TO his intense amaze
mcnt he saw the negro, Blackhayvl. bare
beaded and bare-footed, tramping along at
ms side. Blachhawls had an cad way OF dis
appearing and appearing when least ex
pected. He seemed TO have tho faculty of
beng anywhere In q moment.
'Blackhawk, what oc3 You doing herel''
ne asked; have y01 -un ayvGy from your
masterfi
mo, sab; jest thought I'd foller We:
mobbe yc might need me-"
''Do you know the peoDie NJ that bouse
BaCkhawki" asked the younq Captain. Bv'
lug his keen blGo oycs On tho negro. Black
hawk recoilcd strangely, IS II he had
suddenly been touched with 2 hot iron. THO
captain, puzzled at his strange demeanor.
repeated tho question
Yes, massa; knows en- he said .dey
IS all scccsh."
what is their nameIn
Morgan, massa; dat gals fadder an
bruddcr am bof ia dc rebel army. aa'
,'"ould sarved un right TO q bu'nt dere
house, but i'm glad 20 didn't doit."
"Whyin
"Jcs cause I'm glad yo,, didn't Some
body oricr do . an some 'un win, mebbe. {"
Look hcre, you black rascal, II hear Of
you burning any houses lii have you shot. %
"De good Lord bless you, rassa won't,
decd won't"
Tho Captain walked on with his head
bowed trying 70 make out the character Of
TIC negro. He had been tho slavc Of Mr.
Non Tor twenty years, aud he had known
nun ever since boynood, but there bad al
ways seemed to be como dccp mystery con-
necicd with him. There WIS something in
u nature uufathomaDic. When next he
BOXED for B.ackhawE BIO had vanished
as the little army advanced their mum
bcrs continued 30 hourly Increase. until they
had over thousand men, with Indifferent
arms aud sfill more Indifferent discipline
CAIRO YVES forty mics away WHOM they re-
ceived Information that JEFF Thompson.
WIN" Aplc' on ftDt.8 Tor superior 70 their
own, was between them and their haven
oi safety CoicDci Richard Ogl38by. with "a
splendid Illinois regiment, was somewhere
in then ncigh0orhood, bot. despite cvcrvcf-
Tort mole on tho part Of Colonel Smart. hc
found % impossible % communicate with
tim
Among The recruits received on tho march
we're about two hundred mounted men.
WHOM they uscd ae scouts and f0raQcrs
C4p'a|n Henry Smart had been chosen
Co-onei, but as yet no commissions had
been erautcd any a. the omccrs. ovina 10
some disagreement between tho Govern r
aud General Fremont ColoIH Smart tal
e.l The Officers o. the regiment summoned h
Lis headquarters ono morning. and. with "A
lace That was very earnc.t, said.
Boys, we're g0in' tn smell uuupocder
before the day is done The rebels are abgt.
threc miles from here Oh q farm, and vyait.n|
% cut us OFF,
How many are tboy ia numbor4u one a
DC oflcera asked
"Doa p suowi but they're reported about
isec frn-aut sNuHgh