The times., 1891-10-16
s he passed, half asleep, ms snaggy

chin almost touching his broad chest.
81 had to DO everything so slowly, but
somehow felt the man was in my Fower.
"My plans were complete. No trace
of the sentry must be left. His comrades
might think he had deserted them, but
no more.
"At last the fell,w stopped, leaning
his rifle against the post that concealed
me. He fumbled his pocket for his to-
bacco.
"'Peter whispered.
"He turned like mountain cat to
meet a swift. unerring blow. Before he
could move he was gagged and disarmed.
with the cry of the night hawk
among the rafters, swift rush of feet
and the boys had gathered about us.
"'What yer goin t do with i'm, HankY
"'Make him show us the way out Of
this hornets nest
"'Where's your camp. stranger !
asked.
1.-The guerrilla pointed directly oppo-
site the way the troopers came to relieve
the guard.
~ drew the back of his bowie knife
across his bare throat as warning, if he
did not tell the truth.
"'We are the Post Oak boys, and you
are going with us bit. l reck'n you'll
show us the way-or the buzzards III
find good breakfast in the morning.
Where's your camp, strangerT second
time.
HE saw as little mercy in my face as
-, <la on1I r,1ao,,, Of hio ul xyaopon
"He nodded the way the guerrillas
went.
Nashville, is it?'
"'Down the roadY / interpreted his
look in that direction.
"'Any sentries down thereY
"He nodded second time.
"'Well, go ahead. If you get us into
trouble
"He shrunk from the touch of the cold
knife with shiver.
"Then we began our tramp, the path
growing narrower and the shadows
deeper.
"Suddenly the guerrilla stopped.
~ removed the gag.
""Ther' mought be picket hyarbouts,
cap'n.'
"'What's YOU countersign?
"'Post Oak was the answer.
"Down the road / went with the lad
who found me under the old mill, ST.
lentlS, to come into an opening in the
woods, flooded with the clear, white
moonlight. At its farther edge, in the
deeper shadow, stood the motionless
picket.
"We had agreed there should be no
noise, no shooting.
"Then we stepped out to meet the
challenge.
eyer all right, reckin, the guerrilla
replied familiarly as we gave the coun-
tersign.
"The butt Of his rife dropped to the
ground.
"'Got chew, Stranger asked.
"'l reck'n,' reaching deep down into
his trousers pocket for his tobacco plug.
"Then came the struggle. l seemed
to feel all the ferocity of wild animal.
had his throat in both my hands. MOI
was my comrade idle. Part of the time
l was in the air, then my feet would
touch the ground, but kept my grip on
his throat. Somehow he had loosened
Pete's revolver from my belt-it was in
my face-I heard the click of the ham.
merits sharp blow on the capped nip.
pie.
"There was no report-no smoke.
"Then saw the shadow Of falling
|. rifestock, and the guerrilla fell away
from me dead.
"'Had to do It, Hank my comrade
said apologetically. Hes jest fit fol
buzzard meat, helping himself to the
weapons of the prostrate sentry. 'Spose
we'll hev to tote i'm alongY
"I repeated the signal twice, and a
moment later the boys came up with us.
"Before dawn we had forded Daddy's
creek for the last time, where the buz-
yards found table ready laid for them
at daybreak, for we had no time tc
waste on the dead picket. Two weeks
later we reached Nashville without
further incident with Pete a prisoner OF
war, our first but not last capture. III.
Nj. Sylvester in st. Louis Republic.
o. U.S u