The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-09-24
CHAPTER. Xxx.

Kenton made no reply to Steve Bray.
toms inquiry, but the latter noticed
look on the young mans face he had
never seen there before. The Virginian
by adoption had pursued the course he
thought was right. He had done his
duty under all circumstances and had
been thoroughly loyal to the cause
which he espoused. Those beside whom
he fought had made every attempt to
degrade and disgrace him and drive
him out of the service. If he had not
enlisted, he would have been called
traitor and driven away from his home
with bodily injury. He had Joined the
ranks to be suspected and denounced.
AS the case now stood he could not leave
the southern cause without being re-
turned on the rolls as deserter. If ex-
changed, he would be put on trial, and
he realized that enough influence could
be brought to bear to further disgrace
him.
Look yere, Yank, what's botherin
yo'r head?" asked Steve after few min
utes of silence.
"A good many things" was the re.
ply.
1--WE been fggerin bit. Both Cap
tain Wyle and the major are now down
on yo'. If yo' ever gifts back to the
Confederacy, they'll shet yo' up or
shoot yo'. Can't yo' see it?''
1T looks that way to me-"
''The Yanks may keep US six months.
and doorin that time thar's goin to be
a heap of lyin about yo' to that gal.
She'll be told that yo' deserted or meb-
be that yo' are dead. Yo' kin bet Cap
tain Wyle won't let no grass grow un-
der his feet. I've hearn that she was
over in the mountains.
Yes
"And was told that Captain Wyle
and his critter company had bin sent
back yere to help hold the Yankees.
Can't yo' seer"
Eyes, but can't act.''
"Why not; It's comm on dark, and
it's goin to rain. See how the line has
struggled! Them bluecoats hain't got
moIe'n one eye open. Tell yo' what my
plan is. Let s make dash fur it! It
hahn t over 30 miles to whar yo'r gal is.
Con see her. She's powerful level
headed, and reckon she may give yo'
some good advice. Yo'll hev show to
explain things anyway, and that will
make dough of the captains cake.''
And what about your" asked Ken
ton.
WAL, I'd just as lief run up thar
with yo'. I amt jest exactly satisfied
about all this thing. Mebbe I'll sur
render to the Yanks agin, and mebbe
I'll go back to the company and let
the major pile it on and be hanged to
him! 1 want day or two to think it
over. What do yo' say?''
I'm agreed" replied Kenton after
a moments s thought.
"That's bizness! Jest about 40 rods
down yere I'll give yo' the word. We
uns will break for them woods to the
right. Well be fired on and mebbe
killed, but we've got to take chances.
Once we reach the woods we are safe."
The afternoon was rapidly fading into
dusk, and fine rain had begun to fall.
The cavalrymen were strung out SO that
there were gaps of several feet between
horses, and as the prisoners were sing
ing songs and seemed in good spirits the
vigilance of the captors was naturally
relaxed. The wall which inclosed the
feld on the right suddenly ended, and
then came a field which was open be-
cause the fencing had been used by SOL
diers from one side or the other for their
campfres. 1t was distance of about
% rods to the edge of the woods, and
1t was likely they would not only be
fred on. but pursued by some of the
troopers. Brayton stepped into the road
ahead of Kenton, increased his pace to
reach the center of gap between two
horsemen and suddenly threw up his
hand as signal.
Both men were well into the field and
running at the top of their speed before
an alarm was raised. Three or four of
the troopers on that side opened fire
with their carbines, but pursuit was
prevented by dozen other prisoners
evincing disposition to also make a
bolt. Some of the half dozen bullets
came unpleasantly near, but not one
struck the fugitives, and in two or three
minutes they we're safe in the woods.
With darkness already at hand, there
was no fear of pursuit.