The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-10-22


sort, said the sergeant, now pushing
forward for the first time. I'VE uns
was sent yere to captur' Kenton and
Brayton, and I reckon t'other things
had better be left alone. If that gal
wasn't in the house when yo' all search
ed it, then whar did she cum from?"
One of the men replied that he thought
he had caught sight of her up the road
about five minutes before she appeared
among them, but wasn't sure. Ike Bax-
ter said he had been following Uncle
Ben up the highway when assaulted,
and it was rightfully concluded that
the fugitives were not great way off.
Just then they were Joined by three
more guerrillas, and the, entire gang
headed up the road and were soon out
of sight. AS they moved away Uncle
Ben's tears began to fall, and he whis-
pered:
God bress yo', Miss Sunshine, fure ber
an fureber fur what yo' dun did fur
me, but I'ze got powerful bad news to
tell yo'!''
lis mother dead?'' she asked as the
color went out of her face and her lips
grew white.
''She was dead when dun got yere"
Uncle Ben," whispered the girl,
choking back the walls of sorrow which
sought to pass her lips, Il know you
are stiff and lame and sore, but want
you to try to reach the Federal army
and bring help!'
Il hain't hurted much-only jest a
leetle bit-an I'll start right off" he
ans wered. III go, an I'll keep gwine
till I drap down in my tracks!'
God grant that you may be in time!"
she prayed as she turned away to enter
the house of the dead, while the old
man lost not moment in setting out OH
his journey down the road.
Let US see how things went on at the
camp. Marian had no sooner left it
than Steve Brayton still further
strengthened the defenses. The ground
to the south was fairly clear for a
charge, but in no other direction could
a body of men make rush. The camp
was on the crest of knoll, and no spot
within rifle shot commanded it.
Il fgger jest this way said Steve
as he overhauled the ammunition and
saw that both guns were ready for serv-
e-''that Ike Baxter was sent down
to the house last night to sorter spy
around fur Captain Wyle. Uncle Ben
didn't smash him hard 'nuff, and he un
crawled back to the house, got his wife
to fix him up and then skulked off.
don't reckon he un had fur to go. It's
purity shore that some of our company
will show up doorin the day, and yo'
kin bet yo'r last mewl that them gner-
rillas hain't given up the chasel Befo'
noon sunthin' s boundsto bust!'
And what would you adviser" asked
Kenton, seeing that Steve was in doubt
about something.
''Seems to me the situation is about
as follers," replied Steve. "We ar
both Confederates. We've fit in several
battles. We've bin captured and got
away. We've put in. a heap O. time
chawin up mighty pore 'rations and
marchih up and down the kentry to
prove our patriotism. DO yo' follers"
Yes st:" 4
''That's one side. Now the other is
that sartin gal luved yo' better n she
did Captain Wyle, and fur that. reason
he un has bin tryin to git shet O. yo' by
far means or foul. He's got the whip
saw on yo' and means to hold it. Ii he
gifts hold O yo', sunthin's goin to hap
pen, and yo'll be the one to be hurt.
With that major down on yo' about the
Harrisonburg fout, and with Ike Baxter
and half dozen others ready to sw' ar
to anything the captain wants, yo' un
won t stand no mo- show than coon
cotched in CO 'ncrib. Am right?"
''Yes, that's about the way of it, but
what about your You have been my
friend and comrade from the start. You
have periled your life to save mine.- I
owe you debt of gratitude, and I don t
want you to sacrifice yourself for my
sake. They have nothing against you
which will not be overlooked. They
want to get me out of the way, and
there is every chance that they will ac-
complish their object. I would be self
ish to pull you down with me after
what you have DONE"
And what?" queried Steve.
''Give ME one of the guns. prop me
up over there. and then go! I'll die
right here after making the best fight
can!''
"Yank," said Steve as he moved over
and held out his hand, '.yo' don't begin
to know Steve Brayton if yo' think he s
any sich critterl was bon right down
thar at Winchester, and I've lived thar
all my life and hated and abused Yam
KEGS as hard as anybody, went into
the war with whoop, and I jest be-
lieved everything was plumb right and
all hands round till saw how the cap
tain and the hull company was playin
dirt on yo'. Yo' un's Yankee bon, but
yo's got mo- clean sand in yo'r craw
than anybody lever met up with be1o /!
I'm gofn TO stick right yere. If we uns
git away. I'm goin with yo'. If them
guerrillas ar too many fur us, We'll
both die right yere!"
Kenton protested and argued, but
Steve was determined. He took tin
pail which had contained food and filled
it with water at spring moi far away.
Then he carefully moved Kenton over
to the south side of the camp, propped
him up at loophole in sitting posi-
tion and sat down beside him to wait.
i've fggered this out bit, he said
as he peered through his loophole for
sign of danger. IF them chaps, had
found yo' at the house, yo'd hev bin
carried off to camp. Bein as They'll II
find yo' .yere. and bein as thar'lI be a
font, thar won't be no carryin away if
they git the better of us!"
You mean they'll kill me here and
have done with itr" replied Kenton.
Exactly, and me tool Then thar
won t be any charges. witnesses or trial.
They'll report that we fit to the last,
and it will be all plain sailin fur them