The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-04-11
CHAPTER XXI.

Mark Maynard was passing tho first
night after his sentence. Jakey had left
him, after their discussion of the CAM
paign, to relapse into gloom. Ho blew
out his candle and threw himself OH
his camp cot. Sleep would not come
The events Of the past fow days caracol-
ed Enthusiastically before him like al ar
my Of cavalry goblins in review. They
had scarcely got by before they turned
and oamo cantering back again. Thus
they marched and oountormarched till
midnight, and still no sign Of sleep.
Maynard tossed and turned and pined
for day. And what would it bring forth?
Surely battle could not be much lon
ger delayed, and with a battle thcro
was chance for oblivion.
Scratching u match, he reached for
his watch. 1t was l2 o'clock. EIo felt
that he could NO longer bear those low
peaked canvas walls above HIM 10
must get out under tho broader canopy
Lighting his candle, ho noticed tho uni
form Of Private Flanagan, in which ho
had aided the escape Of Caroline Fitz
Hugh He put it on, and, throwing back
tho tent flaps, stepped out into tho night
Tho Sky was covered with thin clouds,
| behind which tho moon shone, giving
light between darkness and moonlight
He set out toward the front Passing
out Of his own immediate camp, he as
cendcd tho slope Of Pca Vine ridge,
which stood dark against tho eastern
sky. Climbing to one of its highest
points, where ho could overlook tho
Pen Vino valley, he seated himsolf on
rock and gave himself ovor to metlita-
tion. Around him was the dark circle
Of tho horizon, while above was tho
great dome. Beneath him, OH tho east
ern slope Of the ridge, were the Union
outposts, beyond which slept Confed-
erate army Back Of him, in the valley
Of tho Chiokamauga, were the Union
troops, tho two armies making in all
100, 900 souls.
Thore came distant rumbling from
tho south. 1t grew, faded, was lost and
reappeared tho unmistakablo ratio Of
a train. 1t camo OH slowly from dis
tanoo Of several miles, the rolling Of the
trucks, tho painting Of tho locomotive,
growing louder the while till It reach
ed point directly east Of where he was
sitting and a few miles south Of Rim
gold. There it could not only bo heard,
but seen by him. Ho watched it move
on up the road, and at last it was lost in
Ringold. He listened to hear If it won't
farther, but tho sound did not rocom-
menco
Scarcely had the train stopped when
another was heard coming from tho
samo direction. 1t. too, camo on, was
lost for time in tho tunnel, and pass
ing north stopped whore tho other had
stopped. Then came q third and q fourth,
all moving In the Same direction. In
less than an hour Maynard counted fvo
trains, oil Of which stopped at Ringold
lilo rose from his scat. "Thcrc," ho
exclaimed, pointing to Ringold, 'is q
point from which, if am not mistaken,
there will soon como an attack on our
lines. They arc bringing troops in those
trains to mass them on our loft. whore
there is 30 little to oppose them. If tho
trains wore going south, it would argue
that tho encmy were retreating. Com
ing north means that thoy arc going to
tako tho offensive. 1t looks to mo as If
this rapid moving Of men at this hour
meant daylight attack right hero on
tho loft. If so, there is no time to loso
l must get back and give warming"
He walked rapidly in tho direction Of
Rcod's bridge, and coming to tbs head
quarters Of tho commanding officer of
the troops no sought found an aid who
was on duty all night, the general being
apprchcnsivo in his exposed position
and wishing to be called at the slightest
sign Of ali attack. 70 him Maynard re-
counted what no had seen, and tho gen
oral was awakened and informed IIo
turned willing car to Maynard's eau
tion and at onco ordered that tho men
ho aroused, tho horsess fed and breakfast
prepared. Then tho horses wcro sad
died, tho artillery harnesscd and tho
baggage loaded into tho wagons.
TO BE CoNTINUED.
Investigation into the cause Of tho
frequency Of railroad accidents in tho
state Of North Carolina has brought
out the fact that there are la, ger
number Of boys undor IS years Of age
handlng train orders, employed by
the railroads of that state than bv
those of any other state having the
same railroad mileage. Tho lcgisle-
turc will be asked to pass a law rcgnl-
4 H. -