Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-04
CHAPTER ".

Again the boaster halted and fixed hi.
eyes on the resolute soldier upon the gate.
There was no installing the intent OF the
recruit, and turning about lack said:
"Oh, come on; the main army IL ketct
up wi US directly"
His companions gave utterance to shouts
Of derisive laughter. and followed the
cowed bully down the road.
"Ye've got grit n no mistake" Arkan.
saw Tom SAID when the others were gone.
81 swow. I believe ye'd q shed his blood Il
he'd done it."
Il certainly would," Luke answered, de-
scending from his perch.
In few moments stragglers began to
come along and the men were kept busy to
prevent their stealing something or doing
some damage.
The main column at last came in view,
with Captain Smart at the head.
"Ye've saved it 50 far, see," he said.
81 have, Captain, but came very nearly
shooting one man to do it"
"You did right. If We find any O. them
prowlin', or at any devilment here, let 'em
have it. know old Jordan Ne6, and he's
a good square man, and no n shall harm his
house. But ye'll find lots o. stragglers
follerin' us. The meanest ar alters in tn
r'ar. Better stay here till the last uns gone
by"
As Luke intended asking this permission,
he readily assented. The main column OF
about two hundred men, which Captain
Smart called an army, moved on.
The Captain was correct when he said !:
1.-THE meanest ar alters in tn r'ar," a.
Luke soon discovered. It took no little
courage and determination to hold the
scoundrels In check. He was forced to
knock one down and prod another with his
bayoneJ before the stragglers of the rear
guard could be induced to give up the idea
Of plundering the house.
By the time the last strsggler had gone
by, leaving the house unmolested, the main
body Of troops was some four or five miles
away.
Luke, with his guard, started to overtake
them. They logged leisurely along the
road. picking up straggler here and there,
until their force numbered twelve or If
teen.
The idea that they were in any danger
from the rear never for q moment entered
their heads until they were startled by the
olatter of horses feet in that direction.
"What's thatl' some one cried.
AO0SCSy " JLA1Nuy! AVW 2uSWSI0O
At this moment black man, bare headed
and hare footed, - most Of the field-hands
were, came running down the road toward
them, crying:
"Run, massa-foh do Lawd sake, run"
"Who is it, Blackhawk" Luke asked.
"Rebs am comm like do debil, massa;
more'n . thousand Of UNI"
The earth trembled beneath the heavy
thunder Of hoofs, and Luke knew there
were not less than half . hundred horsemen
in their reas. A panic seized tho men, and
half Of them ran away into the woods on the
left.
"This way-this way" said Luke, run
ming toward . coFnfeld ON their right.
Those who had not already run followed
him, and just - they began to climb over
the fenoe tho cavalry came in sight.
BanRl bang! bang! went half . doeen
shots. With . scream young man named
George 1assin released his hold on the ton
rail and fell into . fence corner, struggling
in tho agoaiss Of death
bod burn 'ean for 4srnel skunks:
they haint got Il a than wayv'
cr:ed Arnnssw Tom, laying his he
across The top rail and drawing :
bead On To foremost rebel Lnke. how.
lag the 0sadly ain Of To Cd scout q
~ ASanneaa. avested - heod. 4 shsRp