The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-03-21
CHAPTER v.
CARRYING THE NEWS.

CARRYING THE NEWS.
Had not Jakey Slack possessed stout
heart he would have quailed at pushing
out in the middle of dark night on a
road of which he had no knowledge
and possessing the disadvantage OF be-
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 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 OF all occasional glimmer
ahead indicating that the way lay
through all opening in the forest.
Tom floundered along at very slow
pace. Jakey found it not only difficult
to keep him in the road, but impossible
to keep out of mudholes when on it.
Now Tom fore legs would sink into a
soft spot and again would splash into a
deep rut, or one leg would be in 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 writings. 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 pommel of
the saddle turned his undivided atten-
ton to keeping his seat. Every now
and then Tom would stop and look
about him, as much as to say, "Jakey,
I don't like the looks O. things at ALL I"
But if Jakey understood him he made
no comment Oh 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-the boy CROPPED around
for awhile looking for the road 1t was
Of no use. Go where he would, there
were only stumps and grass, every hol-
low being filed 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
asleep, he would not wake up till late
the next day, and then the southern
army might be away from Tullahoma,
with all its stores, and perhaps there
were . great many other advantages
they would gain that caused Jakey, be-
ing . good Uuion boy, to vince, though
he could not name them. But there
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.
As he was looking for good, broad,
fiat rail to stretch himself on, Tom put
his nose over his shoulder affectionately
and rested it there. Never before had
Jakey felt SO deeply any interchange Of
sympathy with dumb brutes
'*Tom, ole critter,' he said, putting
his arms about the horses neck, ''this
air lonesome. -
And Tom seemed to respond as plain.
~ as if the 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 neck
and looking over it he espied light.
"Golly, Tom,', he exclaimed, II
reckon y sort"
In a moment he had climbed the fence
ana mad regalned his place in the sad
die. Then, pointing the horses head di-
rectly for the light, with ''Git up,
Tom, " rider and horse were soon away
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 the
road?''
who You wasp
I'm q boy, air. !"
wat you want?''
II want ter 60 ter Manchester.
''Vat for?'
Jakey thought q moment before re-
plying. The question occurred to him,
Was this surely Union picket? No
Confederate would be likely to chal.
lenge with q German accent.
I've got some information TO- Mr..
Rose-Rose-what's his name?''
''Sheneral Rosecrans?"
Yea"
Jakey was led over stubble field