San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-10

of his horses hoofs on the frozen eartl
betrayed his purpose, and the patrol wa:
soon laundering i'll pursuit after him.
| Jim knew that he was in danger OF
being shot, but as he was also aware that
the aim of galloping horsemen is always
very uncertain he entertained very little
fear on that score To him capture now
meant certain death at the end of a rope
swung over the convenient trunk of a
tree. Unless he could outstrip his pur-
suers his career as a Union scout was at
an end.
On and on rode the fugitive scout and
| his pursuers, the latter occasionally Civ
ing voice to the yell so often heard from
! Confederate Threats. Gradually the dis
lance between Jim and the patrol wi
dened, and it seemed tolerably clear that
the scout would ultimately escape by
the superior speed of his horse.
Gleefully looking up the straight road
that led to the gap, Jims heart sudden
" stopped beating, for he had just dis
covered the approach of another body
of horsemen. His sharp eyes told him
that the newcomers were enemies. He
had apparently fallen into trap.
But Jim White would never have sue
ceeded as a scout had his wits been less
sharp. He had been in similar straits
before, yet had escaped. By a sudden
twist of his rein he compelled the animal
under him to make bolt to the right,
and almost at the same instant the horse
made leap over the stone fence. Then,
stretching out on furious gallop, his
steed was soon crossing the field of
snow strewn stubble.
Both of the Confederate patrols fol-
lowed, but as they were delayed in get
ting over the fence Jim had meantime
reached the other side of the field, his
horse leaping a wide ditch in his stride.
Two or three carbines were emptied at
him as the horse rose from the leap, but
all the bullets went wide of their mark.
1t was now test of speed and endur-
ance, and jim had again sanguine hope
of escape. He knew the valley well, and
as he rode calamity forward the thought
entered his busy brain that on the other
side of small wood he was approaching
there was a road leading toward the
River Potomac. He also remembered
that a mile or two below there was
bridge across narrow creek. and he at
once formed the plan by which he finally
eluded his pursuers.
1t took only few seconds to enter the
wood and dash through it. On reaching
the road he darted off again, being fully
a mile ahead when the Confederates took
up his trail. In less than 10 seconds Jim
had reached the bridge, it being just be-
yond sharp turn in the road, thus shut
ting him out of the sight of the united
patrols.
Suddenly refining in, he dismounted
and led his horse under the bridge. Once
there, he covered the animals nose with
his hat to check its labored breathing
and ordered it to kneel. The command
was promptly obeyed by the docile steed.
it seeming to recognize its masters peril.
Standing there, ready for any emergency,
the scout calmly waited, hearing the
sharp clatter of the Confederates as they
rapidly approached. Nearer and nearer
came the laundering hoOfs, and a mo-
ment later they ratified on the bridge.
The trained and intelligent animal gave
no sign of its presence, and III few min
utes the pursuing party was out of sight
and hearing. Then Jim returned to the
road and galloped away up the valley.
He reached Aldie gap late in the night
and passing through without challenge
bivouacked in wood near the Center
vile road. He reached General Hooker
on New Years eve and made his report.
and thus it was that jim Whites shaggy
but feet steed saved him from capture
and death.-True Flag.