The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-02-23

about TO fee back TO the cabin, when
restrained her long enough to whisper:
Don't blame me II ! carry of your
father tonight"
Tote him ez fur ez you uns please.
and ef you uns tote him so fur he can't
never come back to that cabin up thar.
hit won't make me cry no teahs."
There was q sob in the girls voice as
she pressed my hand and disappeared in
the darkness. II did not take me a half
minute TO outline my plans to the men
and to impress them with the irnpor-
lance of taking the papers from my
breast pocket in the event of my being
killed or even severely wounded, and
getting them through to Mitchell, Sill
or Negley.
Hitching the horses back from the
stream and leaving two men to guard
them, with orders to permit no ono to
approach till we returned, took the re-
manning four men and went quietly up
the slope to the cabin. Loud laughter
and the boisterous voices of many men
talking at once convinced me while we
were yet fifty yards away that Hugh
Mcneil had received re-enforcements.
At this distance we halted, and | sent
one of my men to the cabin to tell Hugh
Mcneil that wanted to see him for a
few minutes.
Against the shaft of light from the
cabin door we could see our comrade
and the burly form of Mcneil approach
ing. The mountaineer expected to find
me down at the creek, but | well knew
that to surprise such man was to make
him physically powerless and mentally
incompetent for the time.
Hugh Mcneil, you are my prisoner.
If you utter whisper or move an inch
without my order you are dead man.'
The four cooked carbines pressed
against his body convinced him that he
must obey. AS took off his hat and
tied his hands behind him with picket
rope brought up for the purpose. could
hear the quick, heavy breathing, and
the gritting of the teeth that told the
effort with which the fellow was re-
straining himself. 1t required another
threat, after he had been bound, to
make him lie down, but he quickly re-
allied that we were in a hurry and
meant business. One of the men was
detailed to watch Mcneil. which left
only four, including myself, to deal
with the gang in the cabin. but the ad-
vantage was on our side.
Audacity and judicious surprise are
the strongest allies of the trooper. There
were eight men smoking inside the cab
in, all lank, desperate looking fellows,
with powder horns and pullet pouches
slung from their shoulders or waist
belts, and their heavy hunting rifles
within reach.
"Shoot the first man who lifts a
hardr
The men In the cabin heard this, and
they turned to the door to see three
troopers covering them with their car
bines.
What in hi does you uns meanT"
asked the man Peet, whom have men
toned before.
at means that you fellows are pris-
oners! Don't move"
The mountaineers were thoroughly
frightened, and the bravest offered no
resistance while their rifles were being
carried out and they were being divest-
ed of their ammunition. belts. pistols
and knives.
In the darkest corner of the cabin
could see Min Mcneil. her fine eyes
aglow and her breast heavng with ex-
element. called to her to leave the
place and she instantly obeyed. Then
told the mountaineers that ! would Sta
ton my men about the cabin. and that
the first one of them that attempted TO
leave till had talk with them again
in the morning must take the conse-
quences.
My men were moved back, and we
made bonfire of the woodpile which
we found about fifty feet in front of the
cabin door. Into this fire was built the
arms, ammunition and belts we had
taken from the mountaineers, the object
being to destroy the stuff, which was of
no use to us, and at the same time to
keep up the impression of our presence
on the prisoners till daylight.
As we were hurrying back to where
we left Hugh Mcneil the girl stopped
me, and drawing me aside asked, "Is
you uns gwine to kill dad?"
NO." replied, but we'll carry him
with us. may release him after the
danger is over"
Don't kill him, fo' even though
hain't got no heart TO him. he's my
dad" she said, with sob.
assured her that had no such pur-
pose, but at the same time tried to i'm
press her with the fact that a human
life, particularly that of an enemy, was
OF no account compared with the sue
cess of our enterprise.
IF SO be-" she continued, you uns
could kinder tote him off till the wah's
ovah, and Lin Moore kin come back to
keer TO me and Hen, ez he'll be mighty
glad to do, hit'd be kindness to we uns.
ken make out all alone by myself eff
he's KEEP a-kinder prezner. with no
chance to drink whisky"
"All right, Min," replied. aud |
pressed into her hand what was left of
the Confederate money we had brought
along. | was about to move off when.
to my surprise, she threw her arms
about my neck and kissed me. Poor
girl, rs felt her hot tears on my face |
think ! understood and honored the
emotion that prompted the act. We had
made break in the crushing loneliness
and awful monotony of her life, and we
were living link connecting her with
Lin Moore, the gallant fellow in whom
all the hopes of her solitary life center
ed. She confirmed this sudden impress
sion by whispering: