The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-02-02

aiaI they were not pfs26sd. sat his, i, ~.
pearance. He determined to play . bold
game. He had no defined plan when
he began to speak t0 them--it came to
him a. he proceeded.
"What are you men doing here?' he
asked in tone that none but = soldier
knows how to assume.
No one answered.
what regiment do You belong TOT?
No answer.
lis there noncommissioned officer
among you?"
There was SO much of authority IN
Marks tone that it compelled an answer.
and q respectful one.
mo. SIR"
''You noen are away from your CON-
mands without permission. | can see
that plainly"
The men looked guilty. but said moth
ing.
''You evidently don't know me. am
an officer of General Bragg's staff on an
important mission of secret service"
He waited a moment to discover the
effect of his words and then proceeded:
1T is matter Of the greatest moment
that get across the river at once.
want you men to pull me over and then
report Immediately to your colonel.
Give me your names"
Without appearing to doubt for mo-
ment that he would be obeyed. he called
on the men successfully, and each man
responded with his name. There were
five men, and as each answered he
saluted respectfully.
"Now what regiment do you belong
TOT"
"The -th Tennessee"
The old story" said Mark severely.
you men are doubtless from east Ten
nessee. You are deserters, trying to get
back to where you came FROM"
Mark had hit the nail on the head.
The men looked terror stricken. He
knew, when he ordered them to pull
across the river, that they would obey
him gladly. And if he should leave
them to report to their colonel, they
would attempt to make their way north
instead.
"Get into the boat, every one of you. .
Every man got into the boat, and one
Of them took the oars.
"Now If you will get me over quickly
ri see what can do for you with your
commanding officer when return"
Jakey was standing on the bank with
his eyes wide open at this scene. Mark
had been q hero with him; now he was
y little less than q god. :.
"Do you want to get across the river
my little manT' asked Mark. as il he
had never seen the boy before.
Does want ter? Course does"
Jump in then, quick. I've no time
to lose"
Jakey came down and got in with the
rest
"Give way" cried Mark, and the boat
shot out from the shore.
Not q dozen strokes had been taken
before Mark, who was delighted at the
success Of his assurance, saw q sight
that made his heart sink within him. A
boat shot around Moccasin point from
the eastward.
God in heavenl 1t was full Of armed
men. ...
AS soon as they saw the skiff with
Mark and the deserters in it-for such
they were-they pulled straight for
them. In five minutes they were along.
side.
Il reckon you're the men we're look
ing for" said an officer seated in the
stern.
Who are you looking for?" asked
Mark. with as much GOODNESS as he could
assume.
"Deserters from the -th Tennes-
see." -...
Mark knew it was all up with him.
His assumption of being on General
Bragg's staff. which had been so sue.
cessful ruse. suddenly appeared to him
a halter about his neck.
Hand over your guns" said the Off.
Ger.
The guns were handed into the boat
all except Jakey's shotgun.
THAT other one too"
That's only a shotgun, captain" said
Mark. ....~- 49,
well, never mind the popgun."
Every moment the deserters looked
for Mark to declare his exalted position
on General Bragg's staff, but no sucf
declaration came. 1t seemed possible tx
them that perhaps he would not wish tx
disclose his identity to so many. At any
rate they said nothing. Had itnot beer
for his assumption Mark would have
applied to the captain to let poor coun
tryman and his little brother pass. Had
he done so it is quite possible that tn
men he had deceived, surmising that h
was a refugee like themselves, would
not have betrayed him: but Mark knew
that besides this danger the officers, hav
ing found him in such company, woult