The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-16

"But there's no knowing low soon we
may strike road that will lead US off,"
II supposed the guide was with you"
"He is not"
"An' nouns seen 'im,n said Arkansaw
Tom.
"Ain't we n purity picket" muttered
the chronic grumbler.
1--WE can't stay here long" said Captain
Mason. 'The country is filled with rebels,
and they will soon collect force ten times
our number and be after u.s."
Gwen be gobbled up sure" sighed Max
stake command, Captain Mason, and
will follow wherever you lead," said Cap
tain Lawrence.
Luke Mason rode to the front, and after a
very brief delay they again started in the
direction they supposed the fort TO be-,
Luke was wondering why Blackhawk had
deserted them. Was 1t because he was a
traitor after all, and had led them into the
enemys country and deserted HIM, Black
hawk had been mystery ever since he
had first set eyes upon him, when q boy,
years ago.
Somehow he had always seemed to pos,
sess some wonderful power over him, and
he used when but child to shudder when
he saw him watching him from his great
yellowish black-eyes. Blackhawk was an
enigma. Why did he disappear so sudden.
lyi Why did he re-appear at such unex
pected times and placess Why was it that
he seemed to BIO everywhere, and at the
same time, to know every thing, every
place and every body|
Slowly they gropcd their way, through
darkness, mist, drizzle and fog. Luke was
not long in realizing that return in that
darkness was impossible. They missed the
road, wandered out of their course, anG
came upon a collection of houses, which
might pass for the deserted Village
After a short council Of war it was deter
mined to pass the night here.
They had brought one Of the wounded
men with them, and he was so weak by this
time that he was unable to ride further
They carried him into one of the desertet
houses and laid him on the floor, where hi
died before morning. During the remainder
of the night the soldiers remained huddleC
together in three of the deserted houses
listening to the pattering of the rain upol
the shingles and the expiring groans o
! their dying comrade.
| Luke Mason regards this q, the mos,
miserable night of his army life. He wa
| in an old hut, and worn out with fatigue
and anxiety sat shivering and doing upol
the ground The roof was full of holes, ant
the drlzzle which finally assumed the form
| of cold rain sent the water drip, drip
dripping through the rather loose boards II
@ hundred different places. Although h
again and again selected a position wher
he hoped to be out of the leak, yet ere h
had long been in his new place the COLI
water came drip, drip, dripping down upol
him, entering his collar, and gliding dow
his b..ck.
But the long, dreary night came to an end
and with the coming of the morning the rail
ceased, though it was still cloudy, cold an,
clustering.
snow, Captain, where do you say W
are9" asked Captain Lawrence.
1--WE must be about twelve miles fror
the fort"
"Yes, and in the worst kind of a rcbe
hot-bed"
The commander of the expedition kne,
this, and as soon as he could got his fore
In motion. They had gone about a mile i
the direction of Fort Donelson when the
entered narrow lane. On hill stood
large two-story farmhouse, with at leas
q dozen doors and windows facing the roat
1t stood on the left, while on the right wa
a large barn.
The anxious soldiers spurred their Jade
horses onward, depending on the advance
guard, which had already passed the hous,
TO warn them of danger.
The column was directly between tn
house and barn when suddenly shot fro
acuster Of bushes in the yard was heart
Instantly every door and window becan
avolcano from which there issued smok,
flame, fire and death. Bullets and bucl
shot whzzcd like hail about tho troops.
Men fell, horses reared, plunged and b;
came unmanogeuble, and, while Luke W,
trying to rally his men, his own stec,
pierced by dozen bullets, fell against til
fence.
In vain Clp'ain II 4son tried to disengag
his feet from the stirrup3, the horse role
over, and the young oiiccr's head struc
some hard substance with such force as {
render him lnsensiblc.
When he rogaiued consciousness
found himself surrounded by force que
RI as, helpless prisoner.