Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-01-03
CHAPTER XXI.
ON A REcoNNoIssANcE

Captain Alton had scarce reached the
porch when he discovered two men hurry
ing across the bridge which spanned the
brook at the foot of the hill
A single glance suf6ced to tell him who
they were.
1T is Simon ard the deserter of the
XenOphon," said the young officer to
himself, and from the manner IN which
they walk, and from the anxiety of their
faces, there seems to be something of
Importance on their minds. "
He descended the broad steps from the
porch and went down the path to meet
them.
What is it?" the anxious young COM
mander asked.
Captain Alton" said Mr.. Burnett,
there is another violation of the armis-
tice.
WHAT"
"The land troops are on the move.
Leaving camp?"
Eyes"
Then this must be looked into at
once"
found it still an hour high. This had
seemed to him the longest day he had
ever known. It seemed a day which
would never come to close.
Mr.. Burnett, he said, turning to the
deserter, Il am going to leave you IN
command of the fort, and with small
party am going out to recOnnOiter.
as this like q commander Of a post,
! Captain AltOn2 Would it not be more in
order for you to remain here, and send
me out to reconnoiter or Simon. or some
/ one else?"
@No. not under the circumstances. You
! are not acquainted with this country as
! I am. You know not the forests as I do,
and can go IN safety, and will be able
! to make better report than any one else.
/ There is something mysterious going on,
! and we must know what it is. We are
| working for victory now"
| Mr.. Burnett soon convinced himself
| that what Captain Alton wished was for
! the best. They went back to the village,
/ and there Captain Alton selected q dozen
/ men to follow him.
They were all we'll armed with unerring
! rifles, and each in his belt had a brace OF
! pistols and a knife. Captain Alton, In
addition to his sword, had only his pis-
tolls, but these were long and very accu-
! rate, being almost equal to a rifle IN
range. Among the dozen men selected
were Tommy Rufies, Sam Perry and A.
/ Jones.
Tommy RULES, the little tailor, ha6
! forgiven Captain Alton for having VOL
the affections of the girl whom he loved
and he was much concerned about the
| abduction.
Tommy was not the bravest of the
brave, but had the pluck TO consent, ever
to volunteer, to accompany our hero OF
! the expedition, which was so fraugh
( with danger. He was a little nervous, i
is tree, but ne would not allow any one Il
] notice it.
How soon do you intend to go, Cap
tain?" asked Mr.. Burnett.
II viii 60 at once.
"Wiu it not be dangerous to go before
the sun is set2"
No; there's a thick forest On the NORTH
| which will screen US during the recon
nOissance as we'll as midnight. Their
seems to be an effort on the part of tn
British to go 10 the beach, and intent
frustrating this design.
Can you do it with only one dOzel
men2"
Il can try, and I think I shall succeed,
answered the Captain.
All were ready. and with the brave younI
commander at their head the American
sailed forth.
After crossing the earthworks on tn
north of the village they had to 60 over
narrow tract of cleared land, and plunge,
into a dense wood with a tsngled under
growth amounting almost to a jungle.
Keep a sharp lookout, cautioned OsE
tain Alton, who took the lead. There
no knowing where the British are at pres
ent, for beyond a doubt they are moving.
Slowly and cautiously, the American