The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-01-13

| proposed TO me that should ride in
stead, adding that he was perfectly we
able to walk.
1t was, of course, far more pleasal
to ride, but as soon as was well in IL
saddle began to feel drowsy, and fea
ing lest / might fall off my horse an
hurt myself I tried to keep awake
talking to the Cossack, who was wall
ing by my side.
Sand so you. too, were left behind?
remarked.
YES" was the curt reply.
But how did it happen?"
by accidentw replied he, unwilling
ly. quickening his steps at the sam
| time.
The moon disappeared behind tn
clouds, and the wood became uncom
fortably dark. The horse stepped eau
tiously over the damp, marshy ground
stopping frequently and snorting, an,
could only be induced to advance b,
frequent admonitions from his master
did you say that my battalion wa.
verst ahead of us?" began again tn,
conversation, in order to prevent u.
from relapsing into a silence that threat
ened to become irksome
who can tell? 1t may be more and
it may be less. Halo, stopping again,
are you? Confound the brute! There's
nothing worse than riding horse that
you are not accustomed to-"
docs this horse not belong to you?''
"No. mine is with the baggage train.
He hurt his foot and went lame. NV
other horse was killed five days ago, so
that had to take this one from among
the militia horses land have never in
all my life set eyes on such brute as
he isl
1T was your own fault after all.
You ought to have looked sharp when
you chose him."
''As if had time to pick and choose
a horse at that moment. Stop there!
Whoa! Where are you going to?
Straight into the swamp, I'll be bound.
can hear the water splashing under
MS feet A little more to the left.
please"
guided my horse to the left, and
we became silent once more. / racked
ny brain trying to discover some topic
II conversation, but my poor, aching
lead was unable to bring forth any
hing.
what regiment do You belong tor"
burst out at last in my despair.
II am in a line regiment. Good |
ieavensl there is not one tiny star to |
e seen." he added, with a half-smoth-
red sigh.
What do you ant to see a star for?"
"Why, because we're in a strange
lace where it is easy enough to lose
mes way, and besides he is coming
fter us all the time"
l knew that he was thinking of the
urks, and began to feel anxious. All
y drowsiness vanished, and, although
y head felt hot and heavy, still the
'ssibility OF such terrible meeting
stored my lucidity of thought.
Are you sure that we have lost orr
ay?' l asked my companion, timidly.
How can l tell? 1t may or may not
So. To the right, please, there's
lie there-it is easy enough to lose
les way under the circumstances. 8
- the country" he suddenly burst S
t, giving the horse at the same time I
blow on the nose, which made the S
ghtened animal swerve aside, and in a
ing SO knock my leg violently a
ainst tree. l very nearly lost nv g
lance and almost fell out of the sad :
}, but cared little for the pain, in [
It, l hardly felt it. My teeth were p
altering and my heart sank with p
r and anxiety. Z
Where are we going to?" said I at y
t, speaking with difficulty. Hadn't W
better stop here and wait till the d.
n" m
oh, certainly; only we might find p
selves skinned alive before morn CT
)" answered the Cossack, grimly. l.
knew somehow that he, too, was wor- az
and anxious, SO held my peace. ST
nee reigned once more in the wood. tn
only sounds we heard were the foot sc
IS OF the horse and the cracking of qr
dead branches beneath his hoofs. on
erai times we stopped to listen. Cd
Cossack even put his ear to the an
und repeatedly, but we could hear ho
hing. Once only jaclal howled ne
ewhere in the distance, but he, too. stl
soon silent There was no wind. ha
the boughs of the trees were per- sa
ly still ba
suppose that our men are bivouac- tn
somewhere?" remarked nv com.
J. ere
Why do you. think sop IL
because should have heard the ar bu
ry going along when listened 2
10 You think. the day will break sci
p" lea
'oon, did you say?-oh, no, the ne,
is are long here. 1 lost nv bear ing
}" added he, after silence, "when fea
pped by your side" int
What bearings? What do Won 1
~" ho,
mean the direction in which I fan
It to have gone ON. Because Won rec
knew I had found the right road har
,lally as he was lying in the right sole
ton" dea