The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-07
A RECKLESS FEAT.

TO be fed; likewise mules. Something was
the matter with something somewhere,
and forage did not come in, which was 8
matter of serious concern.
Troop Sergeant Anderson of the -th
cavalry took account of this state of things
as regarded his own troop, and one after
noon headed party which was to scatter
itself to the four winds and ride promis-
cuously over the earth on the scent of the
needed provender.
They had ridden about mile when An
derson in his rather independent way jim
gled off on a little trail Of his own, telling
the men of his squad that he would rejoin
them at the crossroads farther on. He
had an idea that he could do little re-
connoitering to advantage and perhaps
meet with an adventure, thing that was
bread and meat to his soul. So he loosen
ed the heavy revolver in his holster and
swung off into bride path, making
detour to avoid bit of wood which had
been heavily shelled by Confederate bat
terry the week before, and galloped leisure
~ across an open where he was fully ex-
posed to the fire from the trenches of the
enemy, who, however, seemed indisposed
to take notice of him. From the open he
turned into narrow dirt road leading off
somewhere into the Confederate lines. He
expected to fall in with a rebel picket
here, but as 1t CHANGED he fell in with
something more. He had ridden perhaps
100 yards along this road when on round
ing at a slow canter a clump of scrub
pines he found himself in the act of riding
right through group of half a dozen
mounted men, who were walking their
horses in exactly the opposite direction
that he was going. There was stare of
surprise and pulling up of horses.
Now, Anderson had red hair, resolute
chin, thoroughly controlled temper,
cool mind in the presence of danger and
a quick hand. He was slightly startled at
the renconter, but he did not lose his head.
AS he pulled in his horse he had his re-
volver out and leveled at the central fig
ure of the group, who, by his trappings,
he took for a brigadier general, perhaps
even a person of higher rank, who was
out with his staff for an afternoon canter.
Hands up!" called Anderson in the
peremptory manner of a western road
agent.
'Who the mischief are you?'' demanded
the general, for such in truth he was.
my names Anderson, sergeant in the
-th United States cavalry, and you're
my prisoner" replied the turbulent look
ing highwayman with the red hair, re-
garding his target with steady eye.
The general made a mistake-he stop
ped to parley. Perhaps it was quite nat
ural, while being stared out of counte-
nance by tho ugly muzzle of huge re-
volver, that he should do SO. but we re-
cord simply that he made mistake. If
he had ordered rush-but he didn't.
'Your prisonerl Why, that's very alb
surd, my good fellow. Don't you think
you are ours?'' he inquired briskly, quite
at ease.
''Not while I've got the drop on you, -
said Anderson, with grin. Eff one Of
H.
shoot. You can suit yourselves. I'll shoot
at the first move. Of course you can kill
me afterward, but that's the fortune of
battle. You won't kill me first"
The staff had remained dumb with
amazement at Anderson's audacity and
the cool way in which he did this thing.
But it found voice at last.
you've got a lot of nerve" said griz-
z1ed warrior who rode in front. 'sGet out
of the way there. General, If you say
We'll take him.
The general looked in the eye of the
man who had him sighted and saw
shoot there as plainly as if he read it
in big letters on an open page. He was
very wroth but he feared death in this
! fashion, and he knew also that he was OF
value to his country. He waxed sarcastic.
Colonel, has he got his Internal pistol
| pointed at your head or at mine? With
OUb OuE0ASOndD10 CURIOSITY WISH 10 De
| informed just what you would do if you
sat in my saddle? present the case plain
/ 1y.''
| The colonel was mute. and Anderson s
horse grew FESTIVE.
| tGentlemen,'' he said, falling humor-
ously into the generals measured d1ction,
81 am tolerably impatient man, and
! I'm obliged to protest against council
of war in the field. You will save time
and infinite trouble if you will pass il
| front of me in your present formation and
ride over there" He pointed with his free
hand in the direction of the Union lines.
"Take that road to the left, and we will
| thus avoid your men in the pits, who
[ might be tempted to open fire on us, nat
urally mistaking you for the enemy"
"Well, you have got a nerve said the
general, meeting the level glance of the
! sergeant again. Anderson was rather rag
ged and not very clean, but he locked ter
ribly determined, and the general realized
that he was the prisoner of that unkempt
looking individual who sat like centaul
on roam colt as clearly as if he were il
the center of a square of infantry.
you'll be quick If you please" sale
Anderson, knitting his brows. 81 don I
want to kill you, general, but you'll have
to go with your staff, and go right away
OF die here. I'll take my chances"
The general smothered a groan of wrath
and ordered his escort forward. Six off
GERS captured by battered ruffian of
troop sergeantl He sighed deeply. It wa
very grievous to be borne.
"I'Il follow you Close" said Anderson
cheerily as the fell into slow trot. INC
tricks, gentlemen. Mind, I'll shoot at thl
first sign, and don't miss. Colonel, I'm
on to your little game there. You'll ridt
ahead with your hands up
1t was queer procession that logged
sulkily into the Union lines at the edge O
nightfall, and it created quite wave O
excitement among the idle troops. An
derson delivered his capture over to hi:
commanding officer with the briefest ex
PLANTATION and then rode whistling to hi!
quarters very hungry man.
Tt was a wild, reckless feat but i
brought ieutenant's commission. which