The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-26
A WAR EPISODE.

the little town of Warrenton, and from
the tired look of the men and the steaming
sides of the horses one could plainly see
that the cavalcade had ridden fast and far
The company were part of the rangers,
and at thoir mead rode their chief, Mosby,
on black stced, while the rost of the men
trotted on behind in a leisurely manner
and made tho air ring with their jests and
gay songs. IC was true that the enemy
might come in sight at any moment or
that some stray bullet from foe hidden
in bush might cut short the laughing
words on the merry lips, but familiarity
with the horrors of war had bred an easy
Indifference and these men, though daily
facing death, thought no more of their
danger than If they were riding to picnic
in some neighboring grove.
1t was just about noon when the party
dismounted ut n farmhouse, and in an in
slant the jolly rebels were the center of an
admiring group that crowded about them,
and the eager host FASTENED to bring out
for their entertainment all the good things
that his larder afforded. The men were
hungry, and seated beneath tho huge oaks
they were soon discussing the relative
merits of the buttermilk and fried chicken
with which they were plentifully supplied.
But time wore on, and the men, forgetful
of its passing, sought refreshment in a
doze on the grass beneath the trees.
A sudden cry of "The Yankees are COM
ing!" rang out on the still afternoon air,
and the Confederates sprang TO their horses
just as party of Union troops dashed in
sight around a bend in the road In a mo-
mont the rangers had leaped on their steeds
and galloped out of sight down a narrow
liz, lp,,p fH,t h. 4
partially concealed them from view In
fact, their escape would have been success
full had not one man FESTIVE nag delayed
the fellow so long in mounting that the
approaching squad caught a glimpse of the
gray jacket as it vanished in a cloud of
dust in the distance
All of the rangers had got out of danger
except their leader, Mosby, who was in the
house when the alarm was given and had
not heard the warning Cry. So when he
looked up from the book which he was
reading, while resting in the cool of the
hallway he saw the Union troops charg-
ing in at the gate which was only few
hundred yards away. 1t was too late now
to escape, and while the Federals did not
yet know of his presence they would search
the house, and it was only matter of q
few moments before he would be prison
er in their hands.
In the parlor, which opened into the
hall, young lady sat sewing, and her
quick wit took in the situation at glance
"Here! Step in this clock casep' she hur.
riedly whispered as she threw open the
door of an immense old clock that stood
ticking in one corner of the hall.
And in n moment Mosby had squeezed
himself into it's dusty recess.
BY this time the Union men were dis
mounting, but before they entered the
house the lady had seated herself and was
quietly sewing.
The Union officer strobe into the room
and looked anxiously about.
care there any rebels concealed in this
housep" he demanded in loud voice.
"Mosby's men were here awhile ago.
she replied, "but they all escaped as your
troop came in sight
The officer glanced about the room, and
his quick eye caught sight Of man. soft
felt hat thrown carelessly on chair.
Search the house," he ordered Of three
men who were waiting his commands.
In a moment the men In blue were
swarming over the house and poking into
every nook and corner. They commenced
at the garrett, searching each room closely
as they descended, and the rattle of their
sabers could be heard distinctly in the
hall below AS they tramped about throw
Ing open closets and upsetting beds
Presently all gathered in the hall and
were discussing in disappointed tone their
fruitless search.
Every moment seemed an eternity to
the ranger shut UP in the hot dusty depth
of the old clock, and the warm air had
Il Va l.
not move, for only few feet away he
could plainly hear the angry tones of the
Yankee officer, and the least motion meant
capture or death. Slowly the moments
dragged on, and still the men fingered.
Finally the occupant of the clock felt
an uncomfortable desire to sneeze, and as
he realized the fact he broke out in cold
perspiration at the horrible thought. To
prevent it was something beyond his con-
troll, but sneeze would surely be an.
swered by bullet through the clock case,
and the ranger felt he would prefer the
danger of facing his foes in an open fight.
Suddenly bright idea came into his
mind, and just as he bent, his head to
sneeze he gave pull ON the pendulum
that sent all the wheels whirring in loud
confusion.
The Union men glanced suspiciously at
the noisy timepiece.
81 am afraid that clock needs mending,' u
remarked the lady carelessly AS she turned
down a new hem in the linen on which she
was sewing, and her quiet voice disarmed
suspicion.
With sigh of relief, Mosby heard the
officer command his men to mount, and
presently the gallop of their departing
horse hoofs fell on his delighted ear. And
scarcely had the echo died away when the
clock flew open, and the exhausted prison
er struggled out in an almost suffocated
condition.
I A merry laugh had the ranger over hi:
narrow escape, but in all the dangers that
he faced during four years of bloodshed
there was none that tried his nerves like
the terrible half hour spent in the ole
clock case.-Exchange.
Your Alter Ego.
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