The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-18
CHAPTER XIX.
IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
Once inside his tent Colonel Maynard
said:
Corporal, want you to get me the
uniform of private soldier. You must
do so without exciting suspicion.
'Oi don't know how Oi'll do il, colo
mel, without goin back to mo own
camp"
II fear that will take too long Can't
you steal one from one of the tents near
by:'
"Oi moight be able to do 1t, and OF
might spend the whole night tryin.
Oi can get one at me camp certain. -
II would take your jacket, but I
want your assistance. There's no other
way but for you to go to your camp"
Colonel. Oi'll ride hard.
Ride, and remember that every mo-
ment is worth years at any other time"
Ratigan lost no time in mounting and
was soon galloping on his way. Once
out of the camp from which he started
he found no guards to pass and was able
to drive his horse to the utmost. The
night before ho had chased the woman
whom he had then known as Betsy
Baggs in mad race TO capture her. Now
ne was tearing along in mad race to
save her from the consequences of his
capture. Past woods and waters flew
the corporal, over bridges and hills,
through hollows and rivulets. till he
came to his own camp. There he at
once sought the quarters of Private Flan-
agan.
Flanagan" he cried, shaking the
private, ''yer wantedp
what is it, corporate"
Let me take yer clothes and ask
no questions. -
"Take 'em And diyil question
will Oi ask except whatye do be wantin
'em for. p"
Ratigan seized the bundle, and. with
an injunction to Flanagan to keep his
mouth shut if ho wanted to save him
self from future trials, mounted his
horse and was again flying over the
ground back to Colonel Maynard head
quarters
1t was now the small hours Of the
night. The corporal cast his eye to the
east and saw n faint streak of white
light there. Digging his spurs into his
beasts fianks and urging him with his
voice at the same time, rider and horse
sped on in race between life and death.
'Go On, ye beastl' cried the corpo-
raj "Go on, me dariin. Strutch yer
cussed legs, for don't care if ye kill
yersilf if we lose no time. What's yer
loifc compared with hers? On with We.
me beauty! Win the race with the sun
that is showin his light there. and
Oil worship ye forever"
With such contradictory and incohe-
rent phrases Ratigan urged his horse
till he could go 10 faster Again did
hills. wales, WOODS, waters. fences fly
by till at last the corporal dismounted
at the camp he rode for, and in mo-
ment was in Colonel Maynard's tent
The corporal started back. A man
stood there whom he did not recognize
for few moments as Colonel Maynard
He had no beard, while the colonel had
had heavy one His hair and eyebrows
were black. while the colonel's were
light. and the hair which had hung be-
low his hat in short curls was now crop
ped.
"Give mo tho clothes, quickp'
The corporal handed him the bundle,
and Maynard lost no time IN getting
into them.
Corporal" said the colonel, "let me
explsin what | am about 10 do kruyv
something of the blood that flows III
the veins Of Caroline Fitz Hugh. She
will never accept her life ut the price
intend to piy for it. She must not know
that intend 70 save her by violating a
trust, by incurring my own downfall,
or she will not leave her Jail. Do you
undorstand?"
II do, colonel. She would chide me
if she knew | was doing the same. "
while you have been away have
placed three horses in the wood yonder y
Il see, colon'l. "
Corporal Ratigan, every man has
his own part in life TO perform The
distinctive feat e-e in mine seems to be
to decide quickly between conflicting
duties. / am going TO violate trust, tc
perform q sacred obligation Ii you viii
aid me, follos me- y
Taking up slip of paper lying on
his camp cot, on which he had written
an order, the two left the tent They
were challenged by she sentry or post,
but giving the countersign proceeded
till they were again challenged hy the
guard at the temporary prison. There
the colonel advanced and gave the COM
tcrsiCn and passed into the house.