Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-03-29
an order?' replied the spurious private

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from breaking.
Come" said the colonel. She fol.
lowed him TO the porch, and Corporal
Ratigan joined them, but it was too
dark for the prisoner to see who he was,
and he did not dare to make himself
known. As soon as they had got to
saco distance he whispered:
"Darlin"'
"Ratsr'
Not word till we get further
away"
They walked on at all ordinary pace,
though all desired to hasten. After pass
iry some dis +ance FROM the house May
nard turned and glanced back. He saw
the sergeant watching.
1--WE must 60 to the tent" he NUT
tered, and the three walked on. Before
entering he looked again. The sergeant
was still watching. He evidently wish
ed to make sure that all was right All
entered the tent, while the colonel,
standing at the front and peering be-
tween the tent flaps, watched for the
sergeant to 60 back into the house. Pres.
emily he did so and left the way clear.
"Now come on"
Leaving the tent, they walked short
distance down the road. Not word
was spoken. Presently they turned aside
and entered the wood. There they found
the horses.
Mount" said the colonel to the
prisoner.
Putting foot in his hand, she sprang
op OH to horses back. There was no
sidesaddle for her, but the high front Of
Mcclellan" served very we'll, and
she was so good horsewoman that she
could have ridden sideways Oh the ami.
mails bare back. The stirrup was fitted,
the colonel and Ratigan mounted, and
the three rode rapidly away.
1--WE must dodge the picket, " said the
colonel. Even tho countersign might
not avail us with woman in the
party"
"What does it all mean. Rats?" ask
ed Miss Fitz Hugh. II thought you
were going to do your duty at all haz-
ards"
well, there's different kinds Of du-
ties, and sometimes they won't work
together. If savin woman's life isn't
a duty, then me mother didn't bring me
up right
"Who's the other?" she asked while
Maynard was riding little in advance.
lone who this night makes me his
slave"
"And I from this night will be ILL
debted for my life to both Of you If you
succeed in saving it. But can't bear
to have you sacrifice yourselves for me.
You may be committing an unpardon-
able sin toward your comrades, but 1
cannot believe you are committing sin
toward our Father. And one day it will
be all ended, Rats, and then who will
care?'
"Oi know those who will rejoice"
Ratigan now took the lead, having
passed over the route before several
times and being familiar with the best
way to get between the vedettes Colo
mel Maynard dropped back beside the
prisoner.
"Who are you?" she asked.
lone who serves you.
The voice sounded familiar, but was
disguised, and she did not recognize it
as Colonel Maynard's.
"Were you sent by Colonel May
nard?'
"No."
"Why should you try to save me?"
"Ask me rather why should not.
1t was plain the man, whoever he
might be, desired to remain unknown,
and she desisted from further question
ing.
"After all, my death would not profit
the Federal cause" she said. my lips
will be sealed to any information I may
possess.
"Your information would be too late
in any event. Had it been otherwise
this plan would not have been attempt
ed"
"Why so:'
Your commander in chief of the Ar
my of Tennessee has delayed too lcng
already. He will attack us almost I'M
mediately. Your information would not
now hasten that attack. F"
How do you know?'
"We have captured prisoners show
ing that your men have been REINFORCED
from Knoxville and Virginia. General
Bragg has ceased to retreat and is about
to fall upon US with q concentrated ar
my"
"You are right in assuming that nei-
ther you nor I can have influence for
or against either side now. These troops
have been coming from Virginia for
month. They are nearly all arrived.
You may expect to hear the opening shot
of great battle at any moment
The corporal, who was in front, rein
ed in his horse and held up his hand i'll
warning. They were on the edge of
wood and within few hundred yards
of the creek and could see to the right
and to the left.
my Godr exclaimed the corporal,
there are vedettes there, and vedettes
there, pointing north and south. "And
they are both comm this way. We
must 60 back.
Colonel Maynard rode forward to see.
He glanced at both parties of vedettes,