Evening star., 1897-05-29

strong flowing current Then he saw the
dark lines of teams streaking the slope be-
yond, and knew that the shadowy men
were planting guns to cover the retreat.
The big deaf man was numbering heavily
at his side with one hand on the horses
bride. The drivers were swaying in their
creaking collars. A bowling cap came in
contact with the neck Of a horse and fell
off into the road. The drowsy heat, the
rumble of the carriages and the tramp of
many feet had their effect on the wounded
man, who was no longer conscious of the
sitting dust or of the rank smell of the
de mp fields mingled with the salty Odor Of
the CALLED teams. He was not disturbed by
the occasional halts, when the men slid
down to the ground and slept with their
heads on the saddles, or by the extra
sorambling and clatter of hoofs when a
general and staff with headquarters flags
and cavalry escort hurried by to the front.
1t may be that he was dreaming of Jim
and that his vision had brought him to the
death scene, when he lurched and would
have fallen but for the strong arm Of
Spence, which put him back into the sad
die and remained with a precautionary
curve around his back.
The deaf man uttered an oath at hts own
drowsiness He had been munchiDg hard
bread at the moment to keep himself
awake. When the column halted they were
close to little stream where the road Dip
ped between two hills. The smell OF water
reminded Speno that he was thirsty, and
hS leu tile ucTSe up 10 TIC Deu Ol tHe IlVu-
let until they were out of the crowd, with
the intention of taking a drink. Instead of
doing SO, he sat down on the ground, and
was overcome in a twinkling by the demon
of sleep that he had been fighting SO long.
The horse put down his head and drank
through his gurgling bits and then betook
himself to cropping the grass which grew
conveniently at level with his shoulder.
In good time, Henry Price, unsupported,
tcppled over the side toward the bank,
but with the instinct of soldier who had
slept in the saddle before, he clasped the
horse about the neck and let himself easily
to the ground. To breathe out his life up-
disturbed was the one boon he had craved
from his deaf keeper, who now muttered in
his sleep more obltvious than ever. 1t was
lot so painful to be shot, or so dreadful to
die as he had believed. and with this CRATE
full thought which he half shaped into a
prayer of thanksgiving, Henry Price lapsed
into unconsciousness.
The drowsy columns moved on, lurching
and doing through the close August night;
trampling the dust of the road with Dlis-
tered feet and beating parallel paths in the
fields. AS the hours passed the flying
clouds. thickened into a blackness that OBJ
scLred the moon, and then came the warm
rain to make the march and the steaming
clothing of the soldiers heavier than ever.
The two men by the rivulet were not dis
turbed by the rain, until the horse gave a
tug at the bride, which woke the deaf man,
who sat up and shook himself. He remem-
bered that his comrade was wounded He
feared that he was dead There was no
longer any moving infantry in the fields,
and on the road only few spectral figures
drifting across a break in the clouds and
further discernible in the darkness by
sU athings of white.
Great heads" muttered the deaf man.
Them fellers amt givin' up like Henry
and layin' out on the damp ground to ca lch
cold a-purpose.'
He crept over to the body under the tree
ard groped about in scared way for a
hand. The hand was encouragingly warm,
and he pulled at the limp arm. at the same
time calling the sleeper by name.
Henry Price groaned. and opened his
eyes onto the brow of the hill over which
they had come. Its black rim cut sharply
against the sky, which was beginning to
clear.
Who are you that disturbs me-" he
asked. He was. evidently in some doubt as
to which world he was resuming conscious
ness in.
Wake up Henry" replied the deaf man,
who was vaguely conscious that his COM
rade had spoken. I'm put you on the
horse, and well fetch up with the battery
by mornin.''
The sound of voices on the bank of the
stream arrested the steps of tall soldier
who was hurrying along the road.
Nv hat are you feliers doin' in there?" he
cried. THE dvil will be after We afore
long if We don't git UP and move on"
I'm well enough where l am" replied
Henry. Go on YOURSELF
What kind of an idiot be you, anyway ~
growled the strange soldier strid:ng over
into tbs company of the two men and the
horse.
He had bandage about his head which
was stained with blood but he carried his
gun with jaunty swing and appeared to
have no uneasiness about his own ability
to get away from the devil whenever it
pleased him to proceed.
Say, what's the matter with You, any,
way! the strange soldier continued, look
ing down at Price and touching him with
the butt of his gun. "Hurt?'
I'm shot through the lungs" said Henry
I've got to die. and 1 don't want to be
bumped along on a horse"
Sorry" said the stranger. Whats the
other feller got to say about it?'
He's deaf" said Henry, with a deep
groan, as he tried to shift his position.
Spence came step nearer to the tall
soldier, in order to make closer examine
ton of his bandage. Got plugged in the
head, didn't ye, stranger?'
Stranger be damned" returned the tall
soldier. My names Smith. He motioned
Spence to one side and addressed himself
| to Price. IF you're shot through the lungs
you better be set up on end, young feller.
You'll breathe easier that way. We can't
| all of us get off with a scratch like did.
Come. now," he continued, straddling
| Prices body and lifting him by the should
| feel heap better"
| Henry WINGED with pain an sat back
against the tree with q groan.
Had it dressed?"
mo, nor said Henry with a gurgling in
his speech. It's no use. It's all up with
me-"
| 'Bleedin' inside" said Hicks. II see
| Mebby it can't be helped, but it certainly
| goes agin my grain to leave you here tc
| die-Sh! Hold your tongues, boys, there's
| something comm on the road"
Smith caught Spence by the arm and hel6
| up a warning finger. At the same moment
| a mass of figures rose above the brow OF
| the hill and two guns of the cavalry with
mounted cannoneers came dashing doWr
| the slope with din of galloping hoofs, jing
| ling sabers and Gathering tools, through
which the heavy breathing of the horse.
| could be distinctly heard. A scramble dowr
| the hill, a double rumble over the bridge
and presently only the babbling Of tn,
| brook above an undercurrent of rapidly re
| treating sound.
The rush of the flying section quickenet
the pulses of the three men, and the heav!
| silence that followed was eloquent Of peril
imminent If underlined. The horse which
had been frightened at first, sided agains
the deaf man and threw up his head Will
an appealing whinny that was prolonge,
in succession of hoarse bleatings in iii
| throat and chest.
A heavy sigh came from the groun,
/ where Price was lying. Save yourselves