The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18


ing the cog a smart blow that sent him
yelping into the canebrake
Tise was finally silenced. But to cele-
brate the event the mule Cindy raised her
head. turned back her long ears. and gave
voice to a sonorous bray that rang through
the swamp and toated along the distant
river bank in slowly expiring echoes.
Johnny seized Cindy by the muzzle to pre-
vent a repetition of the untimely noise,
and Judith. fearing the contagion of a bad
example, took the other mule in charge.
But the precautions were useless; the
of the winding creek came a sound of
cracking twigs and horses feet trampins
the mud.
Johnny. it's the Yanksr exclaimed
Judith with look of despair
In two minutes more the little sw wang
be caught like quail in a net
Yes" said the boy, gritting his teeth,
but the mules amt thurn yet
A loud splashing told that the cavalrymen
We're crossing the creek, and Tige began
again to bark
maybe we can dodge EN- and swim the
river" said Johnny.
He leaped on Cindy, Judith on Beck.
Just as they broke through the fringe
of cane on the south bank Of the knoll a
loud Halt rang from the thick under
growth fifty yards away. They were heard
made for the laurel bush and cane along
the winding creek. The lies, though old,
were still active and sure-footed. and they
We're fresher than the federal horses. ..,,
Halt" came again from the rear. Still
hidden by the cane and laurel, the boy and
girl turned bend in the water course.
Fire. and a shower of bullets whizzed
through the shrub, cutting leaves and twigs
on every hand. A bit of bark grazed
Are yer hit. Jude?" cried the boy over
his shoulder
No; are your
mo, but i can see blood on Cindy's ear"
Still keeping to cover. they made turn
after turn, but sound each time betrayed
them, and they failed to much increase
the distance from their pursuers. Worse;
the men were widening the line of pursuit.
The boys. tactics were discovered. He
thought of another plan, gave the mule
sharp blow and spurted to the right.
A few hundred yards away was a clear
ing, a small field formerly cultivated, but
now reverting to wilderness Could ground
be gained on the wild ride to this open
place its tirmer footing and freedom from
trees might enable them to increase the
space so greatly that when they re-entered
the swamp on the farther side their Hight
could not be heard. They were trailed not
by the eye, but by the ear.
The cIearin,a''', Kissed the boy.
THE clearin'?' gasped Judith.
Eyes, gain on EN- thar; dodge EN- tother
side"
on, on they went with heads bent low.
A blackjack bough combed Judith s
streaming hair, and would have dragged
bristling name. "A low beech limb scraped
Johnny's back, bursting his "gallus" and
tearing his shirt from neck to waist. But
the clearing was gained and the pursuers
distanced Half minute later the squad
broke cover to see pap's mules ana their
youthful riders dart like arrows INTO the
farther swamp, safe
"Haltm rang the command, this time ad-
dressed to the squad
1.-TWO cracker children and mules! i
thought there were ten rebels, well mount
ed" said the officer, and in deep disgust the
troop tracked their own trail back TO the
road.
The raid had passed like summer storm:
Three days and nights of sun and dew had
broadened the tender leaves above John
Clines cabin and painted them deeper
green, as a thin woman, clothed in brown
homespun walked YEARLY up Blackberry
The Widow Barbour was tired, but when
she drew near Susan's home the limp folds
of her draggled gown grew crisp with curl
osity and her old blue Sunbonnet took on
an interrogative tilt.
Things seem bout as same as common
at Susan's," she said to herself, quicken
ing her pace. The fence is all thar and
the bee gums ts is stand1 Nothins tore
"Howsom' ever, l don't hear no hens
cacklin' - and her eyes brighthened But
ag'in' the fence, fat as ever" she added,
sorrowfully.
Lifting the gate latch, Nancy heard
cheerful voice within.
Bring forth Their raw-yell di-er-dem
And cra-own Him, Lor-or-ord of all.
"Thars Susan a-singin' Coronation and
it's true word that Johnny's saved his
her mind reverted to Old Sorrei, miles
away, in the hands of the departed raiders.
Nancy listened to Susan's story with
keen but melancholy interest. Susan was
when the squad stopped ag'in on their
way back from the swamp and called for
someh'n to eat, 1 sot in and fried EN-
half side o. bacon and nigh on to all
Speckle's last years chickens"
They was fine pulletS SuSe.
Yes, Nance; but when the cap'n told me
my boy and gal was safe l could a-slaugh-
tered the whole yard, I was so thankful.
h eaF so 'ee that hed never seed SIGH
bareback ridin outsidern a circus"
,.Warn't none Of EN- teched no 'Nlat
round the legs, and she LETT some of her
hair in the swamp; but skin and hair amt
like clo'es; they'll grow ag in.
It's told about that one or the mules was
"A ball bored a hole. in Cindy's ear, but
Johnny says Cindy had ears to spare, and
Jude flows to tie g ribbin in the hole next
time she rides to Oakville, for she's got
word that Browns red headed clerks laid
out joke her for runnin' from the Yanks;
But IAN sakes Nance! Have yer walked
all the way from the Hollow" ended
Susan. noting Nancy's bedraggled appear
YES, suse." Nancys thin lips began to
CULVER "SorreIs gone, and two tears
made their way slowly t tRgougshh the 9rS %rin
snuff-stained wad from her fiat bosom and
put it to her eyes
Susan, compassionately. picking up snuff
box and well-chewed brush which had
fallen from Nancy's 'kerchief. "Sorrel
warnt much account"
"she was my onliest eritter,'" replied
Nancy, Wiping her eyes. Il told the 1ankS
she was twenty year old, and axed EN- TO
look in her mouth. But the head robber of
EN- all flowed that nobody coulG tell
horses age by teeth after it was eight year
old. FAIRS he knowed Sorrel mought be
twenty or she mOught be only ten. Any
how he flowed on that horse critters was
skace. and Sorrel had p'ints; which is a
true word for she was an old racer when
won many a dollar for old Green when she
was young But I'll never set eyes on Sor-
rel ag'in." and the handkerchief went up
to her face once more.
Susan offered verbal consolation, but
Nancy remained uncontrolled. How was
she in future to convey her eggs and put
ter to market? If she were forced to walk,
every one at the Hollow would go and come
before her. In the midst of her mourning
John Cline and Johnny entered
Noting Nancys grief-stricken look. John
forebore to speak to her, ard turned to
Susan. go ~
Words come that Lees surrendered, ana
The handkerchief fell from Nancy's face
In silence she sat and stared at Cline like
a sleep-walker
"And Mis- Barbour. what yer reckin? If
we didn't find old Sorrel a-wanderin' round
the streets She was so no count the
Yanks turned her loose, and she's out thar
al the gate.
back and the wars over" said Susan, pat
ting Nancy on the shoulder.
Nancy rallied.
What dyer say. Suse?" She clutched
vars done? Don't a human soul know it
at the Hollow