The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-26

fhem, and began the dangerous ascent OF
the mountain.
On reaching !he first bench" OF step,
they were commanded TO halt Mcfarland
then placed the "bleaters' at intervals along
the line, aud orders were given 10 advance
on hands and knees, the guide taking the
lead with the bell suspended from his neck.
The niaht was proptious for his underlak-
inc. Sd icing tie dark of the moon. The
men graWlod on over the rough, rocky
ground, bruisRg their hands and knees, with
every ncrpc tense with anxious expectancy.
As the liue melted into the darker shadows
Of tie oge5hanging rocks, Mcfarland bleated
and g,as answered by The others in good
order. la suspense they now awaited the
r6sull q, sbls trial Hpon the pickets over
their heads AN was silent The flock of
sheep Was evidently nor considered worthy
theeueuys attention. They moved forward
again slowly. almost silently, answering
now and iilcn thc call OF the bell-wether;
and g- a result OF ANS enterprise 80 men en-
listed ia llgg Union ranks iew days later.
Eaevru lrns of this nature we're made with
ont accident before the toHiederates gained a
this or1a-iun tho old guide mustered 30 men
for the buempt Making lhcir way success
fully tlHogEh the lines. thcy were advancing
81 comparative safety. when they suddenly
found fcmselycs discovered and swiftly pur-
sued hy mounted infantry. ia the broad
morning Hght the country overgrOwn with
marsh grass aud bTamhios, stretched bare ana
open before them. Their only chance was 10
reach tae wooded ascent beyond, aud TO tins
haven eaCn mnn started TO run for has life.
Mel BriRhd was riding 8 small bay mare
which ip luckily found browsing In the open.
Telling Tack " 90 heap up behind him, he, too,
made Tor the timber laue, putting the little
anima 20 her utmost speed. The yels Of the
soldiers could be heard ln the distance, and
minute later the spent bui uts began To fall un-
pleassnt!y n0Er The weight OF two men CON-
rnoBCea % weary tie animal strainlng under
them. just as they passed around clump OF
bushUs Tack eWUuE oh and concealed HIM
self AMI 2 fi.g minutes iGicr the men thundcred
by. lea, iHE aim undiscovered. Relieved OF the
extra bartcu The faithful mare spTang forward
with Feurwed viFOf, raridiy increasing ihc
distance between the guide and his PufSuors.
But juat as Uieg reached tha 90, OF the mount
ain the idoT iet fai tic rein. lie was shot ln
the arm. Leaping 60 the ground be started on
zap i8c mountain. On reaching the frat
bench hc found that several Confedcratcs
were tracking him by means Of has own blood.
IhTuEt.aE lis finger into Ehe wound to check
the belIHyiHp current hc changed his course
by running around the mountain, and after
making q few hundred yards fsttcned himself
painfully .nto hollow, and awaited the re-
suit
The lursucIs fortunately did not follow in
his direction, aud he gratefully heard their
retrcutlug steps as they continued Up the
m0uulu8A.
WHEN TIKI sgENCE FELL
about iiDi again he arose aud reconnoitered
his position. From certain landmarks he
judged that the cabin OF a mouniaineer named
Darns oouid not be over q mile distant and
toward taai refuge he slowly with pain and
caution made his way. After a tOilsome and
wCaTyiug tourney the clearing came into sight.
hnoREh 4rCcs had been cut away % afford
small n5M aud garden patch, on the right Of
which s log cabin WAS built whose rude stone
chimney, thrown up con- The outside OF this one
rO0med dwelling, pulled its friendly smoke
into the lonely mountain air. The cabin
boasted HG means OF outati0n bat the front
aud rI.H doors both OF which stood open. The
old guide EaHk exhausted upon the doorstep.
Within aoshinE was 10 bs seen but rude
wooden bodstead, q few rush bottom chairs,
and q deal table. Prom the uncovered raitcrs
hung elabs OF bacon, with buuches Of dried
beau6 and Eed peppers Et intervals.
ln q Taln F0ugh cupboard, made OF box
hung against the dark wall OF logs were five
or SIX pieces Of crockcIy IN various stages OF
dilapidatiOn. Ia the cornor opposite the bed
stood tae stove. where pot of cabbage was
boiling.
WOMAN EETEEED TIE REAR-D0oR,
and stared nj the man IN front, a. irst with
slight surprise on her apstbetic face finally
with 81 definite q look al recognition as her
plaiU and uum0viur features could iorm.
hoWdy." she said, quietly
Met atiand answered her greeting by nod
ding Rnu rising rapidly as his worn aud
$40 H1Hsr.nr uFaff A.. n .fs.H
houdy, MB. Dsrus he said Amt John
beret ie haded ~ lac entered and sat down
by the table
my mans down 70 DayisOu'a hauIin'
wood
Her rOiue was nasal and utterly devoid Of
iutioCtlon. lts effect was almost as mOnotonous
~ tht dronc oi q bagPipe. FUTther. her eyes
were b.ue. with a vague, immoyable expres.
El6n; hsT iiAlr ooloFtd like carrots bat with
slight luster. III there Is one word more than
another 8iat described her Il s uucRnny."
Ia truth she wac said TO be "uuare" by the
ieW who kucE Of her. But she had sense
enough ~ tie up Netherlands arm ln a rude
fashion aud 10 give him some Of the eabbage,
and some c0rubread and bean coffee lie
ate and drank hastily. surmisinR that the
soldiers would be apL before long 10 come by
the cabin, lac cOutriyed TO make Mrs. Darns
siliiltaeIit y comprehend his situation. sdmon-
lshlflg lerln case oi her being questioned 70 say
be hGd gone IA the direction opposte 10 thai
which ho should take. JIG then set forth TO-
ward hif own home taking q road which ne
rightly considered aE safe a. possible under the
circumstances. lie bad taken dread and bacon
with BAN for travelling as rapidly az be could
~ would require 80 hours ot rough aud dan
FoFouE wtlLinF % reach his destinHti0n lie
had 30 anxiety about Tack " feeling Eare that
ninble young pilot had safely guided hig steps
houie ano was there awaiting him.
When Hight came the gloon was intense As
hoi'HTiund approached the base 0f the mount
Ein
7iE ETARTLTEG CHALLANGE
a. O. srntlnr. rang from the darkness Almost
insttbc Te.y he droppsd 20 earth and BEGAN
rutiing tAc ory leaves and grunting Ia the man.
ncT Of "a hog. The trick was successful. k0sec-
ono chal cnge came. and continuing his ruge
unth De wns Out OF hearing he went forward
aRhin- breathing more freely aud reached honle.
Loot worn hHd hungry, bat without further ad-
venture
Tack met him Al the door with joyful relief
but with the nBwE that the COufedeFates Were
establishing piCizets iH tie nePhborbood. and
NO noubl intended % watch the house. Father
Gnd hou swallowed their l0Od in silence: after
Mhioh Tack set out 20 make observations
while Mcfarland, after some attention 40 bis
wound, threw himself GA the bed for q brief but
needed rest
Scarcely had consciousness left him when
bc uia roughly awakened
Dad. the EayE' are COMM Wake mn