Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-17
A DARING VENTURE.
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that one devoted girl and two faithful net- groes could do to forward that end was about to be done. It would have been dangerous work for 8iiy tiale neighbor to engage in, but, ''f we arc caught, Bettie, will meet a sol: aier's fate and yoa; 5f course, will be sent home."
 "But we must not be caught" The captain laughed. Bettie seated heft: self in the stern of the skiff and stretched out her hand for Sir Rogers bridle-Sir Roger was the captains cavalry horse.
 ''Just hold your hand close to the bit. Keep his nose out of the water, and he will do the rest.
 ':.No danger of nerve failure, Bettie." 4 pretty head tossed defaht1y. The, sun was reckoning the eastern skies, but had not yet climbed to the hori- zon. The spring foods had swollen che river until there was but a foot or two of sandy bank between tho speakers and the skiff moored at its edge. The oarsmeh were already seated, impatient to embark | on the trip that was full of peril. No other craft was in sight That swift running yellow current, glistening bright ly in the morning light, was all their own. Some crows were cawing in the top of a l tall sycamore tree near by. A woodman's ax puhctuated the still air with clear dis | tinct strokes. Bettie measured tho dis l tance betweeIt the willows they were leav | ing and the sycam6res on the other side of the Mississippi with apprehensivs eyes. 'It's an awfully long swim" Sir Roger stepped into the water phil5= | sophically. He was not given to taking | thought for the future, The captain drop ped prone into the bottom of the skiff;. with gay laugh. With his legs under , the dingy tarpaulin Chat already concealed 1s lot Nf tobacco he was taking back to the boys, ho gave his final orders. | "Now, boys, long pull and steady pull straight for tho old gum tree with | tho two blighted branches. I'm corn and | fodder.'
 | Bettie drew the tarpaulin carefully over | him. Simultaneously four oars cleft the water, sending the little craft its full length from the bank. Sir Roger behaved l like an equine angel. The embarkation was perfect success.
 If it were not for the necessity of tar l pauling Charley, Bettie was just think Ing, she should rather enjoy this lark, when "Boom!'' a white puff, 0 whistling shell, miniature fountain. The skiff had been sighted by the gunboat through a | thin place in tho trees that clothed the bend. The shell plowcd the waters sev- eral yards short of the boat.
 "Thc devil" came muffled from the tarpaulin.
 in two black faces. 'Wave yo' hankchie missy. Fur I4.iwd's sake let 'em see you 1 is woman!''
 l "Pull," said Bettie through clinched teeth 'Tvc got no hand to spare" l 'Let the beast go, y from the tarpaulin.
 "Shut up, Charley" But in a trice she had slipped the brow batid over Sir Rogers pointed ears, and he struck out Independently for himself Bcttie's face | was drawn with anxiety.
 Pull, boys! Beat them to. land and a COW for each one of you.''
 "Boom!' a second shot, harmless as the first. Only Bettics nerves were jarred by 1t. Then the lookout reported, lowering his glass, "A girl and two niggers swiming Il horse across" And yawl manned by three marines and ofliccred by one lieuten- ant, presently shot across the water to in quirc into Bcttic's intentions.
 She grew white to her very lips Her
 oarsmen rowcd like men pulling for life.
 Charley was as still as if he really was q bundle of fodder. Bettie lifted her head dcfiantly:
 "GO slower, boys. Steady. We can't
 beat them. Let them como up.'' | They came up. Tho boats lay broadside
 to each other. Tho lieutenant in the yawl
 had his hand on the gunwale of Bettie's
 skiff. He was young and tender hearted.
 Bcttic lifted flashing eyes to his hand
 some face and laughed gayly. | ''Is the game worth the candle lieuten
 ant? 1 tried to race you but thrco United
 States marines arc better than two plan
 tation darkcys. We'll, ''-she leaned grace
 fully back in tho skiff, caressing Sir Ros
 CTS bridle-"is there any harm in 0 gir
 trying to save her riding horse from raid
 CTS? l meant to give poor Sir Roger tho
 freedom of the woods, but he is your:
 now if you can capture him. Please b'
 good to him. He paccs like an angel, ant
 swims almost as well" And she smiled l wickcdly and cOurageOusly.
 The lieutenant had barred his head be fore her. The sound of a woman's voice was q luxury in those days of rattlint musketry and booming cannon. Hi glance swept tho skiff from stem to stern then came back to the sweet face of it | girl commandant
 , "Of course the dear has to have corr and fodder. You can have that, too, if yol i, need it."
 The lieutenant sat up vcry straight ant made a stiff military salute.
 "Thank you. We have use on board fo ) neither horses nor fodder" The boat , shot asunder. Each went its way Tn :: lieutenant reported to his captain: 'W
 are not warning on girls or their ponies
 That girl says she was running her ridin
 horse into safety from our raiders and
 let her alone That's all, sir" His vchcmcncc was really uncalled for 7 but conscience pricked him with the recol s lection of a suspicious looking hump un der the tarpaulin that might have bee , made by the pommel of an army saddle , Remember, he was very young and Betti | very pretty, He wondered if any gil
 would ever do as much for hIn. That same night the Blanton place wa 3 visited by a searching party from the glf 8 boat under command of the lieutenant < IA captain was reported to be harbore a | thcrc.''
 l Bcttic's mother said briskly that 'thel
 had been d sick captain there. but he Ina :, gone to ioiD his regiment that very moc1 . ing"
 "How?" Shc had no idea. Tho lier
 tenant had. 'c looked Bettie full in tn
 face. He toss Clrc his words should reac no ears but hCrS.
 "What ri .t won't woman run for til 3 man she lovcs?"
 : Sho turned on him flercely, "Captai
 Blanton is my brother" Then, dimplint
 "Don't tell on yourself, licutenant.' O And he never did until years afterwar(
 when he went back south on purpose court Bottie Blanton, who had capture '- him on the day she ran the blockade.
 was at their wedding supper that he tol t | the story for the first time without ar
 sense of shame, and when somebody pr 6 posed Charley Over the Water" he joine j. in the singing Justify.
 MRs. J. H. WALwoRTH.
 Five Miles Up to SnOwstorm.