The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-05-02
ing, trembling beasts unframed, save
one that lay struck dead by lightning.

us get out of this internal wood before
the last glimmer Of daylight fails US
Luckily the sharpshoo were prac-
ticed horsemen, for the debris of the
storm made their ride too much like a
steeple-chase to be practicable to men
whose seats in their saddles were not
firm. AS it was, Lieutenant Ferguson
got an ugly fall which broke his
collar bone, and Franks charger
blundered over the. trunk of tree,
landing it's rider in the mud, with no
other damage. however, than a torn
coat and some very strong language,
which Rev. Lubin's ma would not have
approved of had she been near to hear it.
They reached the rendezvous at last.
Fulton and his men were already stray
Cling up as they arrived, and Frank
noticed with pain that the ambulance
wagon bore it's load of misery.
zone man killed and four wounded"
Charlie reported, briefly.
Sand what of the enemy?''
s'Heaven knows. They are in force,
though, at least two hundred strong.
If it had not been for that precious
storm breaking on us they would have
wiped us out without a doubt. But,
have you heard nothing of Gregory,
Major?"
Nothing whatever, Charlie. I am
afraid he must have retreated to es-
cape the tornado. It came his way,
you know, and he would see it long be-
fore we did,
''Then all can say is that we are in
Queer street, for as soon as those beastly
brigands have got their breath they'll
be down on us like the wolves on the
fold"
'sLike enough, Charlie. Well. we can
but do our best, and l don't doubt but
that we shall be able to give a fair ac
count of ourselves"
s'Does this thing that imagines itself
a road lead anywhere, wonder?" Char
lie unused. 'SSay, where's your guide,
Major?'
But that was question that Frank
could not answer, for the last he had
seen of him Was when he was bowling
in an agony Of fear behind a rock while
the storm was sweeping over them.
'He's here all right, sir, y interposed a
sergeant who had heard the inquiry;
''his old mule scrambled along after us
somehow: but I'm afraid you won't
get much out of him, as that little
shower shook him up considerable
The guide could not tell them much.
Only that about three miles further on
there was deserted tobacco factory,
and that, if orders could reach him. Cap
tain Gregory might make a detour two
miles north and get there without re-
crossing the wood.
Frank jumped to a conclusion at
once. Turning to his sharpshooters he
said:
II want man to ride to Captain
Gregory-it is a dangerous trip--who
volunteers?"
Every right hand was raised and
every tongue cried: II, STRIP
81 will choose the man with the best
horse" the Major said, we'll pleased
with the result.
To hear those gallant fellows expa-
tate on the merits of their mounts you
would have thought that Uncle Sam had
equipped them all with tE1orough1oreds,
but Frank had a good eye for a nag
and quickly selected strong, we'll
ribbed black mare that took his fancy.
''That:s mine, sir!'' cried a young sol
dier, as joyfully as though, he'd won
lottery prize.
Frank first fed the lad and his horse,
and then started him ON his dangerous
ride, giving him Instructions to tell
Captain Gregory, if he could find him,
to make his way to the factory, whittier
without delay, he too, started with his
little force.
Not a bad place to make stand in"
he said, as he rode up to the big, square,
empty wooden building, whose few mar
row windows seemed mere Sits in it's
weather-beaten sides.
eff they don't burn the shanty over
our heads Fulton added, with a shrug
of the shoulders.
There was moreover the additional pro-
lection of a strong board-fence running
round it, which Frank eyed with salts
faction. The guards were set. the men
flung themselves with arms beside them
on the floor, to snatch what little rest
they could, and silence settled on the
grim old edi1ice.
Nature in changing mood had swept
the clouds from the sky, and a young
moon silvered the tiny stream that
meandered across the little plain that
separated them from the woods.
Three weary hours passed and no
signs~of the enemy Then the sharp
crack of a muslxet from the outer-picket,
and the garrison was on the alert.
Like wolves rushing on sheep, the dar-
ing crowd of guerrillas dashed to the as
sault, knowing we'll that they had
nearly three men to every one OF the
hated Yanks. 1t was a motley troop,
composed Of irregulars, with some fifty
soldiers who had escaped from Morgan's
command, when they had been routed
after his raid in Northern Kentucky,
and who now had joined their fortunes
with these reckless Free-Lances.
A shower of bullets from the barri-
cade of the fence checked their first at
tack. They had never met the men OF
the Fighting Fourth before, and hardly
anticipated so warm welcome. So,
recovering from their surprise, they
formed in better order, and once more
eSSavcd IN Sca1e tho s1iUht abstraction