Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-25


'HELEN LAKENAN." WALTER BROWH.
YIELD" BANKER OF BEDFORD"
AND OTHER STORIES
Copyrighted. 1881
CHAPTER IX-CoNr1NUEp.
"shet up, ye old salamander," growied
Max. "Cap'n, why can't we make a fret"
ats against orders"
"What n thunder d. they issue such Or
ders fur?"
"A fire would make US an excellent mark
for the rebel gunners."
"I'd about as soon be shot as to be freez-
in to death here" growled Max.
Night set in bleak and cherries The
shrill north wind whistled through the de-
nuded branches of tho trees, and the shiv-
ering soldiers bent their wretched bodies
learer to the earth. At midnight it was
showing and soon a carpet of white was
bread over the earth. The wretched men,
shivering and crouching before the blast,
scarce could move to shake of the flakes
that were covering them like q mantle OF
white.
"Cap, don't We hear some one comin'a''
old Arkansaw Tom asked.
Luke listened, and could hear the faint
tread Of footsteps coming over the frozen
ground. He Immediately dispatched his or
derby to the Colonel, asking permission to
capture the bold adventures, who had evil
IDENTIFY come out to reconnoiter.
Without consulting any higher authority,
Colonel Smart told him to Ego ahead"
"Tom, Max, Ned, Bill,p SAID the Captain,
calling over the names Of those whom he
knew could be trusted. Silent as shadows
they rose to their feet, glided to his side,
and the five stole out upon the cleared space
between them and the fort It was now so
dark that no object could be seen dozen
PAGES away. The shrill north wind seemed
to pierce them to the bone.
Suddenly they stopped. Whispers were
heard AHEAD. The snow was falling fast,
and the scouts crept through it near
enough to discover half a dozen men, evil
IDENTIFY Confederate officers, grouped to-
gether engaged in conversation.
Luke determined to cut them of and make
captives Of them, but, while moving in be.
tween them and the fort, the unlucky
Max stumbled and fell, making "a much
noise as if an OK had dropped from the
moon. Three Of the rebels fired at them
and took to their heels.
"Come quick, we've no time to lose, if we
want to take Them" whispered Captain Ma
son, running at full speed, hoping to cut
them off.
Cotton and Tom then fired their muskets,
and man fell The frozen ground was
rough and stumpy. Luke, being swift of
foot distanced his companions and was
gaining on the hiudmost man, who few for
life toward the fort.
Suddenly the pursued, without checking
his speed, drew q revolver and emptied half
dozen chambers in almost as many sec
onds at Luke. Though the bullets few un-
comfortably near the young officers head,
he was unframed, and with drawn sword
did not halt for single moment. The fugi-
tive had partially turned his head when he
fired, and did not see the stump before him
until he had stumbled and fallen over it
Before he could rise Luke was upon him
with uplifted sword.
''Surrenderr" he cried, in q voice hoarse
with passion. The answer came from the
ground in q voice firm and defiant:
Never to a Yankee. Strike il you wiu.''
At sound of the voice Luke's arm fell
powerless at his side, and he turned away
All his hearts tenderest feelings had been
reused by the sound Of that voice.
'sThey have escaped us" he said to his
companions whom he met coming toward
him. Get back to your ranks, for we are
too close now"
On their way back they picked up the
man that had fallen, who proved to be q
rebel Lieutenant. The ball had pierced his
heart, killing him instantly.
Luke said nothing about his adventure
with the Confederate who had emptied his
revolver at him The remainder of the night
was quietly but miserably passed. Atday-
break the entire line Of shiverlng, Quaking.
half frozen soldiers were reused by theory:
''Here they comer'
ayes, by jimmy, thar they come, beg
and baggager' said Arkansaw Tom, seixing
his gun and starting to his feet
Luke, who had been sitting at the root Of .
tree in . slight dose, was up in moment
A long line OF grey coats could be seen
coming over the enemy's works, forming
and advancing upon them. The rehels had
o. their haversack8, canteens, blnnkets
and knapsacks, - IL they were going On .
march
'SThey'veoo ter stay, n brought grub
y blankets" SAID old Tom.
The long ron sounded, calling every man
70 battle. In three minutes the whole limo
was formed. On with tremendous yells
they came, and the work Of death began.
First few dropping shots, like tho patter
Of rain shower, and then came q storm of
hre and leadeE hail 1t was kept up.
Nearer and nearer the contending lines ap-
uroaohed. and hercer and herces grew the
conflict. Luke glanced along their line, half
concealed with smoke. from which he
angry hlases constantly 1aahed- Ths blase
fron dose guns never entirely died away,
Ut h ntfnl runnng names continued q
Aa.ss al6ne - ~