The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-07-11

between you and Chattanooga.
Jakey neither understood nor even
heard a word his opponent said, but he
looked as seriously studious over the
problem as if he were the general COM
manding.
care you whipped, general?" asked
Maynard.
"Waal, mebbe eff I air whipped I
don't know nothin bout it, N I'll Jest
60 on fghtin till make you uns think
tibet you uns air whipped
Like Grant at Pittsburg Landing"
The reference was lost on Jakey, but
it led him to think that he had made a
point. He looked very wise and said
nothing. He was thinking on a line
which he feared might be of some prac-
tical Importance to his individual SELF
He was not certain but that it would be
necessary for him to make the connect
ing link in person between his friend
and his friends wife. So he turned the
conversation on lines of retreat.
"Now, supposin," he said, lust sup
posin war busted right hyar, how'd
git away?"
'That would depend on the condition
Of things. If were the general oppos-
ing you, you'd never get away safely.
I'd never stop till had driven you into
the Tennessee river. +"
How could get thar from hyar?'
''This part Of your army where we
are now could only fall back on Ross
Vile. There the tanks would be better
protected for stand. You could go
from Rossville to Chattanooga by this
road" (pointing to it on the map). IF
you should be successful in keeping
your enemy far enough from you and
long enough, you might cross the river
there and save your army. You might
perhaps stay there if not too reduced in
numbers and if you could keep your
line Of supply open.'
''This air tn bridge I'd cross tn
creek on, I reckon" pointing to Reeds
bridge on the map.
'That's the nearest from where we
are"
"Waal, general" said Jakey in
tone to indicate that the discussion of
the campaign was ended, "ef you uns
bust me, I'll retreat tibet away"
Nothing more was said about the i'm
aginary campaign by either. Maynard's
eye was fixed on his water map, and he
was lost in study. Jakey let him alone
till he saw that he was drifting back to
his trouble. Then he endeavored to lead
him into war again. At last, Selling
favorable opportunity, the boy suggest
ed the propriety Of sending some mes
sage to his wife.
'Time enough for that after the
fight" was all Maynard would say.
Jakey was discouraged. He knew that
if his friend lived after the fight it
would not be his own fault.
Jakey considered himself bound in
honor to report to Mrs. Maynard her
husbands condition, not only on &C
count Of his promise made her on the
evening Of his departure for the front,
but because he had a vague unformu-
lated notion that there are certain ext
gencies where only women can "do
somep'n," and he knew that ''the gen.
eral'' required his wife's attention.
Mounting Tom, he set off toward Ross
vile, remembering by the water map
that the right hand road led there.
It was about II o'clock at night when
he reached Rossville. He determined
to rest there few hours, and making
for cavalry camp got on the "soft
side" Of a sergeant and turned in with
his natural associates, the soldiers ia
key asked the guard to waken him at 2
o'clock, at which time, after bite fur
nished by his friend, the sergeant, and
feed for Tom, he set off toward Chat
tanooga. At daylight he crossed the
Tennessee river and was soon on his
way across the neck of Moccasin point
toward his destination.
As Jakey approached the plantation
it occurred to him for the first time that
the information he bore was not pleas
ant for him to give to any one, espe-
cially a woman, and that woman 1.-THE
generals wife.
"Reckon she uns'll be skeered when
she sees me-, )" he muttered to himself.
II don t like this business nohow. Won
der didn't think o. this befo'. Wish
they wor some I'm ter tell her. Mebbe
I'll see Souri, first Eff do, I'll let her
tell"
But Jakey was not so lucky. He
reached the plantation just before break
fast time, and as Laura Maynard cast a
glance from her chamber window she
saw him ride up to the veranda. She
remembered we'll the promise she had
extracted from Jakey and knew in a
moment that he was the bearer Of some
bad news. Putting her hand on her
heart to stop it's humping, she ran
down stairs and out on to the veranda.
The boy dismounted and came up the
steps.
'Oh, Jakey, what is it?''
Now, Jakey had his own methods Of
carrying his points, and whether or no
they were original or ingenious he car
ried them. Sometimes his parrying was
very clumsy. It was so now. He must
gain time at all hazards.
| "What air what?"
I kLo