Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-02
A DARING VENTURE.
downright, 1861

ohuu One uGVOttu Bii e"' V"o i"iohiui io-
groes could do to forward that end was
about to be done.
1t would have been dangerous work for
any male ncighbor to engage in, but, III
we nrc caught, Bottic, L Will meet n sol
dier's fate and you, of course, will be sent
homc.'
"But VIC must not be caught"
The captain laughed. Bette seated her
self in the stern Of the skiff and stretched
out her hand for Sir Rogers bridle-Sir
Roger was the captains cavalry horse.
'.Just hold your h0nd close to the bit.
Keep his nose out of the water, and he will
do the rest.
"No danger of nerve failure, Bette"
A pretty head tossed dcflantly.
The sun was reddening the eastern
skies, but had not yet climbed to the hori-
ION. Tho spring floods had swollen the
river until there was but foot or two Of
sandy bank between the speakers and the
skiff moorcd ut Its edge. The oarsmen
were already seated, impatient to embark
on the trip that was full of pcril
No other craft was in sight. That swift
running yellow current, glistcning bright
ly in the morning light, was all their own.
Some crows were cawing in the top Of a
tall sycamore tree near by. A woodlands
AK punctuated the stiu air with clear dis
tinct strokes. Bette measured the dis
lance between the willows they were lcav-
ing and the sycamores on the other side OF
the Mississippi with apsrehensivo eyes.
cts an awfully long swim"
Sir Roger stepped into tho water philo-
sophically. He was not given to taking
thought for the future. The captain drop
ped promo into the bottom of the skiff,
with gay laugh. With his legs under
the dingy tarpaulin that already concealed
his army saddle, knapsack and n lot Of
tobacco he was taking back to the boys,
he gave his final orders.
"Now, boys, long pull and n steady
pull straight for the old gum tree with
the two blightcd branches. I'm corn and
fodder
Bette drew the tarpaulin carefully over
him. simultaneously four oars cleft tho
water, sending the little craft its full
length from the bank. Sir Roger behaved
like an equine angel. The embarkation
was perfect success.
If it were not for tho necessity of tar
pauling Charley, Bette was just think
ing she should rather enjoy this lark,
when "Boom!" a white puff, n whistling
shell, miniature fountain. The skiff had
been sighted by tho gunboat through a
thin place in the trees that clothed the
bend. Tho shell plowed the waters sew
eral yards short Of the boat.
"Thc devil" came muffled from the
tarpauln.
Four terror stretched eyes rolled white
in two black faces. "Wave yo' hankchic,
missy. Fur Lawd's sake, let 'em SEQ you
Is u womanl'
pull" said Bette through clinched
teeth. GIVE got no hand to spare"
"Lct tho beast CO." from the tarpaulin.
"Shut up, Charley" But in u tricc
she had slipped the brow band over Sir
Rogers pointed ears, and he struck out
independently for himself. Bettics face
was drawn with anxiety.
/ Pull, boys! Beat them to land and a
cow for each one Of you"
"Boom!" a second shot, harmless ms the
first. Only Bettic's nerves were Jared by
Il. Then the lookout reported, lowering
his glass, "A girl and two niggers swimming
u horse across" And yawl, manned by
three marines and Differed by one lieuten-
ant, presently shot across tho water to in
quire into Bctties intentions.
She grew white to her very lips. Her
oarsmcn rowed like men pulling for life.
Charley was rs still as if he really was q
bundle OF fodder. Bette lifted her head
defantly:
$50 slower boys. Steady. We can't
beat them. Let them come up"
They came up. Tho boats lay broadside
to each other. The lieutenant in the yawl
had his hand on the gunwale Of Bette S
skiif He WAS young and tender hearted.
Bette lifted flashing eyes to his hand
some face and laughed gayly.
''Is the game worth the candle, licuten.
ant? / tried to race you, but three United
States marines are better than two plan
tation darkeys. Well, she leaned grace
fully back in the skiil, carcssing Sir Rog-
cr's bridle-'is there any harm in girl
trying to save her riding horse from raid
ers! l meant to give poor Sir Roger the
freedom of the woods, but he is your
now If you can capture him. Please he
good to him. He PAGES like an angel, and
swims almost as we'll And she smiled
wickedly and courageously.
The lieutenant had barred his head be
fore her. The sound of woman's voice
was a luxury in those days of rafting
musketry and booming cannon. His
glance swept the skiif from stem TO stern
then came back 10 the sweet face of 1t:
girl commandment.
"Of course the dear has to have corr
and fodder You can have that, too, if you
need it,"
The lieutenant sat up very straight nnt
made stiff military salute.
"Thank you. We have Use on board fol-
neither horses nor fodder" The boat.
shot asunder Each went its way. TIL,
lieutenant reported TO his captain; "W,
ARE not warning Oh girls or their ponies
That girl says she was running her riding
horse into safety from our raiders and
let her alone. That's all, sir
His vchcnence was really uncalled for
hut conscience prickcd him with the recol
lection of II suspicious looking hump un
der tho tarpaulin that might have beer
, made by the pommel of an army saddle
, Remember, le WAS very young and BETTE
very pretty. He wondered il any CIR
would over do MS mich for him.
That same night the Blanton place wa
visited by n searching party from the gun
boat under command of the lieutenant
"a captain was reported to be harboret
there"
Bettie's mother said briskly that "ther
had been sick captain there but he hat
, gone to loin his regiment that very morn
ing"
"HowP" She had no idea. Tho lieu
tenant had He looked Bette full in TIN
face. He took care his words should reacl
no ears but hers.
"What risk won't u woman run for tn,
man she lovesY"
She turned on him fiercely, "Captni,
Blanton is my brother" Then, dimpling
"Don't tell on yourself, lieutenant