Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-20
CHAPTER XyVI

ad it, then whar did she cum from?' One of the men replied that he thought ne had caught sight of her up the road about five minutes before she appeared among them. but wasn't sure. Ike Bax ter said he had been following Uncle Ben up tine highway when assaulted, and it was rightfully concluded that the fugitives were not a great way off. Just then they were joined by three more guerrillas, and the entire gang headed up the road and were soon out of sight. As they moved away Uncle Ben s tears began to fall, and he whis- 9ered:
 "God press yo'. Miss Sunshine, lure bel an fureber fur what yo' dun did ful me, bnt I'ze got powerful bad news tc tell yo'!'
 Is mother dcad?" she asked as tbe color went cut of her face and her lipt grew white.
 ''She was dead when dun got yere!'
 "Uncle Ben whispered the girl choking back the walls of sorrow which sought to pass her lips. T know you are stiff and lame and sore, but want you to try to reach the Federal army and bring help!"
 T hain't hurted muCh-Only jest a leetle bit-an I'll start right off" he ans wered. I'll go, an I'll keep gwine till I drap down in my tracks,"
 "God grant that you may be in time!' she prayed as she turned away to enter the house of the dead, while the old man lost not moment in setting out or his journey down the road.
 Let us see how things went on at the camp. Marian had no sooner left ii than Steve BIayton still further strengthened the defenses. The ground to the south was fairly clear for a charge. but in no other direction could d body Ot men make rush The camp was on the crest of a knoll, and no spot within rife shot commanded it.
 II figgcr jest this way" said Steve as he overhauled the ammunition and saw that both guns were ready for serv- ice-''that Ike Baxter was sent down to the house last night to sorter spy around fur Captain Wyle. Uncle Ben didn't smash him hard huff, and he un crawled back to the house, got his wife to fix him up and then skulked off. don't reckon he un had fur to go. It's purity shore that some of our company will show up doorin the day, and yo kin bet yo'r last mewl that them guer- Iillas hain' t given up the chase! Befo noon sunthin $ bound to bust!'
 And what would you adviser" asked Kenton, seeing that Steve was in doubt about something.
 Seems to me the situation is about as follers." replied Steve. We ar both Confederates. We've fit in several battles. We've bin captured and got away. We've put in heap O time chawin up mighty pore rations and prove cur patriotism. Do yo' foller:''
 Yes"
 That's one side. Now the other is that a sartin gal luved yo' better'n she did Captain Wyle, and fur that reason he un has bin tryin to git shet O yo' hy ia means or foul. He's got the whip saw on yo' and means to hold it. If he gifts hold O yo', sunthin's goin to hap pen. and yo'll be the one to be hurt. With that major down on yo' about the Harrisonburg fout, and with Ike Baxter and half a dozen others ready to sw al to anything the captain wants. yo' ur won t stand no mo show than coon CotchCd in q co 'ncrib. Am 1 right:'
 "Ges, that's about the way of it, but what about you? You have been my friend and Comrade from the start. You have periled your life to save mine. owe you debt of gratitude, and don want you 10 sacrifice yourself tor my sake. They have nothing against you which will not be overlooked. They want to get me out of the way, and there is every chance that they will ac- cOmplish their object. would bo self ish to pull you down with me after what you have done."
 And what?" queried Steve.
 "Give me one of the guns, prop me up over there, and then go! I'll die right here after making the best fight can!'
 "Yank, said Steve as he moved over and held out his hand, ''yo' don't begin to know Steve Brayton if yo' think he's any slch critter! l was bon right down thar at Winchester, and I've lived thar all my life and hated and abused Yan- kees as hard as anybody. I went into the war with whoop, and l jest be- lieved everything was plumb right and all hands round till saw how the cap tain and the hull company was playin dirt on yo' Yo' un's Yankee bon, but yo's got mo clean sand in yo'r craw than anybody ever met up with befo'l I'm goin 10 stick right yere. If we uns git away. m goin with yo'. If them guerrillas ar too many fur us, we'll both die right yereH'
 Kcnton protested and argued, but Steve was determined. He took a tin pail which had contained food and filled it with water at spring not far away. Then he carefully moved Kenton over to the south side of the camp, propped him up at loophole in sitting posi- tion and sat down beside him to wait.
 i've figgered this out bit, he said as he peered through his loophole for sign of danger. ''If them chaps had found yo' at the house, yo'd hev bin carried of to camp. Bein as they'll find yo' yere, and bein as thar'll be a font, thar won't be no carryin away if they git the better of usl'
 "You mean they'll kill me here and have done with it?'' replied Kenton.
 Exactly, and me tool Then thar won t be any charges, witnesses or trial. They'll report that we fit to the last, and it will be all plain sailin fur them as wants us outer the way. Thar'fore, in shootin we'd better jest shoot to kill and git all the revenge we kin. Steady, nowl think the critters hev smeIt us outi''