The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-08-05

mimicry by peppering the lives out Of
those poor devils of defenseless Yanks,
know that two hundred cleaning
muskets, held by the hands Of resolute
men were pointed on their prostrate
forms from every tree around them.
Little did they think that even now
their careless piclsets lay stunned, or
gagged and bound at their neglected
posts. sse N NlE hy
Did they start in theirslecp and think
It was dream, as the hoarse command
rang out;
MAKE ready-Firel Fix bayonets--
Charger and two deadly volleys walked
the woodland echoes. With wild hurrah
the Fighting Fourth were on them.
There is no time to even shout surprise;
the only sounds, the scufling of men
and tramp of steeds, as O score or two
Of troopers, fighting like wildcats,
manage to cut their horses loose and
fee to the valley below. twas grand,
glorious little victory fifty Of the
enemy killed and wounded, over forty
prisoners taken, and nearly two hundred
horses, with eirequipments and ac-
coutrements, captured, to say nothing OF
several stands Of small arms and two
baggage wagons filed with ammunition
and supplies. s,.,
But there was one ,,nemy the gallant
Major missed, and him he sought for
with eager, vehgefnl hsste-ah, there
he goes stretching his long legs like a
crane in awlcSsrt fiig,.t, and making
with maddened haste for a neighboring
copse. :.
pointing with his sword to the luckless
fugitive. 'Ill give fifty dollars to the
man that brings him back to me alive
alive, remember, for l want to hang
himw
Who would ever have thought the
gentle Major could have made as blood
thirsty q declaration : not Frank
Besant, who gazed in inquiring wonder
on his flushed cheeks and flashing eyes.
But the Majors soul was raging against
the hapless wretch's sustained duplici-
ty, and, when he said he intended to
hang the scoundrel, he surely meant it.
Poor Squire Dixon was indeed q
pitiable sight ns he was dragged by two
rough soldiers into the irate Majors
presence.
"Fling a rope over the limb of that
tree and tie him up!' was the stern
command.
At first the poor wretch's tongue re-
fused to utter abjectprayers for pardon,
but when in an agony Of terror he saw
them making the fatal preparations a
torrent Of wild supplications burst from
his lips.
But the Majors face never relaxed q
muscle.
"String him up, boys"
Already the mems hands were fore
ing his neck into the moose, when an
other appeal from the doomed man was
more effective.
81 win give the lives Of six Union sol
diers for my own-six strong, young
men In the vigor Of youth for this old
worn-out life of minel" he cried, witt
despairing energy.
What do you mean? Speak quickly
scoundrel, or IL will be too latel"
n There are six Union prisoners hidder
where you can never find them II l dis
with the secret on my lips, and where
II you slaughter me, they viii perisi
with hunger and thirst, for alon'
have fed them, and there win be no on'
TO do II II you murder me-"
'If he speaks the truth there is SOM
sense in that" the Major said, reflect
lively.
"It Is Gods own TRUTH" the mai
moaned. 'Tf you win give your wor'
to let me go free and unharmed vii
make clean breast Of it and tell yo'
where they are. Six young lives for on
old one-thinls of itr'
"Ycs, and such a worthless one a
that you offerl" Major Hopkins said
dryly. swell, prove your words, an