Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-12
CHAPTER V.
CARRYING THE NEWS

CHAPTER v.
CARRYING THE NEWS
Had not Jakey Slack possessed stout
heart no would have quailed at pushing
out in the middle of dark night OH
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 tho
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 1t 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
underioot or an occasional glimmer
ahead indicating that the way lay
through an opening in the forest
Tom tloundered along at very slow
pace Jnkey found it not only difficult
to keep him in the road, but impossible
to keep out Of mudholes when OH It
Now Toms 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 no would founder, while
Jakey held on TO the saddle with all his
strength 10 keep from being thrown OF
by Toms writings All the while q
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 20
find his way than he was himself, and
dropping the reins on the pommel of
the saddle turned his undivided atten-
tion to keeping his seat Every now
and then Tom would stop and look
about him. as much rs 10 say, "Jakey.
| don { like the looks o things at all. "
But II Jakey understood him he made
no comment on 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 coli
fdence reposcd IN him and kept the
road. but all Of sudden he brought up
against snake fence.
Jakey was discouraged. He knew
Tom had lost the road, and rs for him.
Il 80 ..l 70 Ind
it again. Bringing the horse sideways
to the fence, he slid off on TO the top rail
and then down on 10 the ground. Hold
ing the reins and leading Tom-for he
dared not leave him, lest no might not
find him again-the boy CROPPED around
for awhile looking for the road. Ii was
Of no use Go where he would, there
were only stumps and grass, every hol
low being filled with water
He thought Of lying down in fence
corner to sleep till morning. Bat 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
We're great many other advantages
they would gam that caused Jakey. be-
ing good Union boy. TO vince. though
ne could a.v name them. But there
seemed NJ alternative. Ii 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 q good. broad,
fiat rail to stretch himself on, Tom put
his nose over his shoulder aifectionately
and rested il there. Never before had
Jakey felt so deeply any interchange o.
sympathy with a dumb brute.
Tom, ole critter," he said, putting
his arms about the horses neck, this
air lonesome.
And Tom seemed to respond as plain
ly as if the words We're spoken:
"Jakey, you bet"
Maybe Tom had an object in view
more important than an offer OF sympa.
thy. Maybe he had something to conf
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. 81
reckon y sort"
In a moment he had climbed the fence
and had regained 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 a gun.
"Who CONT dare?"
Mister, can y put me on ter the
road?'
"Who you vas?"
I'm boy, air" +"
"Vat you want?"
81 want ter go 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 German accent.
I've got some information 10 MT.
ose-Rose-what's his name!'
"Sheneral Rosecrans!"
"Yes."
Jakey was led over stubble field
which had not been planted since the
previous season and brought before
group of half dozen tents. the head
quarters of the colonel commanding the
-th cavalry brigade. The colonel had
not yet risen. Jakey's conductor ex.
planned to the sentinel on post that the
boy had important information. where.
upon the sentinel shouted, loud enough
to wake the whole army, Corporal OF
the guardr' The summoned soldier
came, and it was explained to him that
Jakey had important information. The
corporal went of to fetch the officer Of
the guard.
"What you want, sonny?" asked that
person when he arrived. buttoning Q
coat he had just put on.
II don't want nothin.
"Oh, you don't. thought you did.
Reckon ! got somep'n You uns want.