Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-17
CHAPTER V.
CARRYING THE NEWS

ing occupied by neither Union nor Con- federate troops. Between the rain and the artillery and the wagons, the roads were all cut to pieces. Water stood every where, and often where the way passed over a depression in the ground it was necessary to pass through small lagoons. This in the daytime, when one might keep the road by observing the fences, when there were any, would not have been so difficult, but overshadowed by the great black wings of night there was absolutely no guide save by feeling underfoot or an occasional glimmer ahead indicating that the way lay through an opening ill the forest.
 Tom fioundered along at very slow pace. Jakey found it not only difficult to keep him i'll the road, but impossible to keep out of mudholes when on it. Now Toms fore legs would sink into a soft spot and again would splash into deep rut, or one leg would be ill the rut while the other was on the higher ground. Then he would founder, while Jakey held on to the saddle with all his strength to keep from being thrown off by Toms writhings All the while drizzling rain was slowly working its way through Jakey's jacket to get at the skin. The boy tried to guide his horse for awhile, but finally concluded that Tom was far better qualified to find his way than he was himself, and dropping the reins on the nommel of the saddle turned his undivided atten- tion to keeping his seat. Every now and then Tom would stop and look about him, as much as to say, "Jakey, don like the looks O things at all. " But if Jakey understood him he made no comment on the remark. He had placed Tom in command and did not propose to interfere.
 Just before morning the darkness grew thicker. Tom had for several miles proved himself worthy of the con- fdence reposed in him and kept the road, but all of a sudden he brought up against snake fence.
 Jakey was discouraged. He knew Tom had lost the road, and as for him. self he did not feel competent to find it again. Bringing the horse sideways to the fence, he slid off on to the top rail and then down on to the ground. Hold ing the reins and leading Tom-for he dared not leave him, lest he might not find him again-tho boy groped around for awhile looking for the road. It was of no use. Go where he would, there were only stumps and grass, every hol- low being filled with water
 He thought of lying down in fence corner to sleep till morning. But he did not like to do this, for fear that, once Ln (, lnt the next day, and then the southern army might De away from Tullahoma, with all its stores, and perhaps there were great many other advantages they would gain that caused Jakey, be- ing good Union boy, to vince, though 1 he could not name them. But there 1 seemed no alternative It could not be more than two hours before daylight would show him the road, and he re- luctantly concluded to go into bivouac. l As he was looking for a good, broad, l flat rail to stretch himself on, Tom put ] his nose over his shoulder affectionately and rested il there. Never before had Jakey felt so deeply any interchange ot sympathy with a dumb brute.
 Tom, ole critter. he said, putting his arms about tho horses neck, "thi: air lonesome.
 And Tom seemed to respond as plain ly as if tho words were spoken:
 'Jakey, you bet.
 Maybe Tom had an object in view more important than an offer of sympa thy. Maybe he had something to com municate. At any rate as Jakey stood with his arms around the lowered necl and looking over it he espied a light.
 "Golly, Tom" he exclaimed, |" reckon y sort
 In a moment he had climbed tho fenc and had regained his place ill the sad dle Then, pointing tho horses head di rectly for the light, with "Git up Tom, rider and horse were soon ava. in the direction of its appearance.
 Suddenly there was an ominous click which in the stiffness of the night sound ed with all the distinctness of the cock ing of gun.
 "Who cont dare?"
 Mister, can y put me on ter tn road?'
 'Who you vas?"
 "Im a boy, air. "
 "Vat you want?"
 'I want ter go ter Manchester.
 "Vat for:''
 Jakey thought q moment before rC plying The question occurred to him Was this surely Union picket? N Confederate would be likely to cha lenge with German accent.
 ''I've got some information fo' Nil |
 "Sheneral Rosecrans?" "Yes.
 Jakey was led over a stubble fiel which had not been planted since til previous season and brought before group of half q dozen tents, the heaC ! quarters of the colonel commanding tE -th cavalry brigade. The colonel ha } I not yet risen. Jakey's conductor el '1 plained to the sentinel on post that tf
 boy had important information, wher
 upon the sentinel shouted, loud enoug
 to wake the whole army, Corporal
 the guardr' The summoned soldit
 came, and it was explained to him thu
 Jakey had important information. IT
 corporal went off to fetch the officer
 the guard.
 :" Lub yOl want, sOhAys ushSu LII
 person when he arrived. buttoning
 coat he had just put on.
 "I don't want nothin."
 "Oh, you don't. I thought you did.
 Reckon got somep'n you uns wan
 but I'm gittin tired answerin question
 bout it..
 @ "Well, what is it, my little man?'' e "I ain't no little man. I'm a boy. t Cant you tell me what you ha
 for us?" asked the officer, smiling. J Cant tell nobody but someboc
 big"
 T don't know anybody bigger thi J. our chief of staff about here I'll ca Il him."