Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-03-19

as Horse is liable TO make, and nov
would steal ON his hands and knees ol
crawl on his belly over some eminenc'
wherl il he should stand upright hi
body would make silhouette agains
the ky. On crossing bit Of leve
grourjd he suddenly heard horse'i
"spldtter He was near clump oI
bushd in which he lost no time in con
cealiIlg himself. A cavalryman rode by
with't 80 feet Of him, walking hi,
horse slowly, the butt Of his carbint
resting on his right leg. and in posi-
tiou % be used readily. He was patrol
ling d beat Ratigan waited till he had
gone past, then darted onward to trees
which, from their irregular line, he
judgH grew beside the creek. He was
not disappointed and was soon standing
in shallow water, resting for q few
minut tes under a low bank
Onte past the creek no felt that one
half his danger was ended. He had
doubtless got beyond the range Of his
own comrades, and now came great
dangjr of meeting the Confederate
pickles Leaving the creek, he ascended
slight eminence and made survey OF
the Surrounding country All was 81.
lent, Except that he could hear an occa-
sional sound like distant burst OF
laughter, or shout from the direction
Of Rlngold, in his front Presently he
heard the unmistakable rumble OF a
train coming. from the south.
III will pass right down there be-
hind fhat olump Of trees and go through
the cit, said the corporal. "Oi wonder
woul init ii be good plan to take ad.
vantgEe Of its noise when it passes to
slip through tho outposts. They'll be
thinAin of the train, and Oi can follow
in itI wake. F"
HeI advanced cautiously to tho trees
| besid1 the track and waited for the
trainl Presently tho headlight Of loco.
motive shot out from around curve
Tho corporal had forgotten that its light
woul reveal him to the engineer. Ho
crouched down out of sight with high
| beating heart. and none too soon. for
had tc staid where he was the light
woult have shone directly on him. He
waitI while the engine puifed slowly
by u was drawing n long train of mix
ed passenger, cattle and platform cars,
every car crowded with troops.
They're preparin to give us brush
in earnest. Like enough these are re-en-
RECIPIENTS. muttered the corporal.
Raligan determined 20 follow the rail.
road borth 20 Ringold, which he judged
10 Id only milo distant The train
loadeIl with Confederate troops having
Just dassed. the guards no might meet
woult probably not be very suspicious
Of NJ, enemy He walked on the track
for n short distance. expecting chal'
lengd with every step.
Hdreceiyed one suddenly, just before
entering wood. A man on horseback
aimed carbine at him and gave the
CUSTOMARY:
"Vho comes thar"
Ratigan at once threw up his hands,
which his challenger could distinctly
see, Jnd cried out, II want ye 70 TAX,
mo ID Colonel Fit1 Hugh. "
What do you want with him!"
"I|o 20 know hims"
He commands a regiment in our bri-
gade-| p
SeIing that the corporal held his
hand} above his head, tho man permitted
him 10 draw near. Once here, Ratigan
informed him OF the nature OF his mis-
sion and begged him for Colonel Fitz
Hugh sake to send him TO Ringold at
onceI The vedette was convinced from
RatiAan's earnestness that he bore
message Of Importance, and calling his
comrhdes ordered one Of them to dis
mount Then. taking the precaution to
blindfold the stranger, he mounted him,
and placing horsomau OH either side
of him sent the three Gathering toward
Ringbld IL was not long distance to
the tIwn, but all distances. all periods
Of whiting. seemed long 10 the corporal.
Was hot the terrible event TO take place
ut stnrise? And now it must be near
midnight
" hat is the timer ho asked Of his
conductors.
"Tlwenty minutes to IL.
"Ilet's go faster. Colonel Fitz Hugh
woull be as anxious for me 10 get on as
Oi a&l meself if he knew me errand. "
A y. right. Let's light out, Pete. "
And lRatigan felt the motion Of a gallop
in thb horse he rode. And now came
. Halt" from a guard and m answer.
followed by Advance and give the
counlersign One Of the men goes for