The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-07-23
night breeze came from this very quar-
"A lncna~a<o Is<l,

night breeze came from this very quar-
ter. 1t was a desperate strait. With
out were raging those bloodthirsty
fiends. who. unlike the chivalrous
Southern soldiers. seldom gave an
enemy quarter; within the air each in
slant became more and more unbreath-
able. A horse, too. maddcned by the
smell of fire. had broken loose, and they
were obliged to shoot him to prevent
his trampling on the wounded.
''Shall we make an assault. Maior?''
Charlie asked. as cool as though he was
on parade.
''IIow can we?" Besant groaned, for
the thought of his gallant men perish
ing like rats in trap cut him to the
quick. That narrow door, the only
egress. would only permit us to rush
out in line SO thin that the boys would
be slaughtered like sheep in pen"
But we should die fighting. and not
be choked to death by this internal
atmosphere
"A flag Of truce and surrender is all
see for it. Charlie" was the dolcful
answer. There is one chance in a
thousand they might respect it,
Then. let me bear it. Quick, or
shall stifie"
There was no alternative.
You'll tell the old man ! did my duty
20 tse last" Fulton said, as he grasped
Franks hand.
Il am as little likely to see your
father again as you are was the sad
reply.
Quick as a fash the door is opened
| and Fulton advances with a white hand.
| kerchief waving in the air.
Do those rough hcrdes stay their
hands at the futtering symbol of peace:
| Not SO: with a yell of derision they
rush upon him, and even as Frank
| gazes in indignation, he sees rope
flung round the neck of his unhappy
! friend.
With cry of rage he turns to hi.
men: Prepare to charge-Fix bayo
nets.' in tones Of maddened fury.
But what is that?
The laundering beat of horses hoof
upon the turf-nearer and nearer-ant
a squadron of Union cavalry dashe'
like whirlwind on the astounded be
sicgers. riding them down and tramp
ling them to death like dust beneath
their feet. Not dozen of the haples
wrctches reached the woods to tell tn,
tale of their misfortunes.
mark Henderson,. by all that
glorious" Frank cried, as he graspe,
the hand of that sturdy warrior wher
the rush of the charge was over.
Frank Besant! Hurrah. I've pal,
you back the debt owed at last
You have, indeed, with interest,""
II little thought when met that fel
low of yours pounding along the road
that it was for you he sought sucl
urgent help from my gallant troopers.
And, where on earth did you sprin
from?"
"oh, we were on our way dow
South to join S.crman's force nnde
Fitzpatrick. We've had ramblin
time of it of late-but, we must nc
stand here talking. Let us first &c
your wounded out of this burnin
rattle-trap."
But they found that by tearing ava
the smoldering boards the buildin
might yet be habitable, and it did NJ
take them long to accomplish tn
little work, to the qualification of tn
poor fellows, who dreaded movin
worse than any thing. Not only di
they make their own helpless ones {
comfortable as circumstances woul
. permit, but they tenderly cared for a
of the poor bleeding guerrillas, who's
wounds were not fatal. As the me
! were moving one OF these latter, h
slouched hat fell back. and disclosed ,