The National tribune., 1897-11-11

the expedition, and agree on time and piac,
of meeting. Robert Inruie was to lead anG
command n
Wednesday afternoon some of the rebels
noticed the frequent appearances of men fit.
ting by the openings i'll the misty skyline OF
the mountan-tOps, but they thought these to
be Union refugees making their way to Ken
lucky, and expected them to be intercepted
by the guards in the passes of the Cumber-
lands
When Robert Inrue with his sons rode
into the deep beech woods which were the
rendezvous, he was astonished at the number
gathered there. AS he passed from group to
group he found every one of his neighbors
who had met him at Blue Racer Cove and
each one had brought some reliable neighbol
with him. Not n man was missing. There
was but one expression among them:
. We'uns ii fout the rebels, no matter how
many there be o. they'uns, an we'uns III
| either rescue the Elder or git killed a-tryin'.'
There remained only to make the arrange
ments for the march and the fight They
were to time their march so as to reach Camp
lsham Harris just before daylight. Robert In
! rule was to lead the center and push on di-
rectly to The tobacco-house in which the Elder
was confined, and release him. Then the
| Elder was to take command.
They had scarcely finished these arrange
ments when there was new arrival. around
| whom all gathered. 1t was ESau Warner,
straight rom Camp lsham Harris.
kunnel Rhea got an idee that some
| things in the wind he explained, . though
he don't know Just what hit is. He had the
| hull regiment turned out this afternoon an
an inspection of arms an catidges. The men
air = fall in at the fust tap O. the drum, an
the gyardsve bin doubled
We're a-gwine all the same, said Robert
Inrule, determinediy, as Warner finished his
recital
THAT weuns air, echoed the rest.
The weather had been threatening for the
last few hours but none was prepared for the
appalling storm which suddenly burst upon
them. Such thunder had never before been
heard the lightnings seemed to be burning
up the mountain-tops the wind became tor
nado, and then the rain fell in binding
sheets.
Hits fallin on they uns same Ell we uns,"
said Robert Inrule, as he resolutely set out
from The shelter of the thick-topped beeches,
and entered the main road. Keep your
powder and caps and gun locks dry ez yo' kin,
men"
They pressed on determinedly, though at
them from the road at another the rain would
threaten to beat them into the earth and the
thunder and lightning were appalling.
From the momentth Elder had been thrust
into the old tobacco house, he began to think
about plans of escape before the fatal day.
He was true Methodist. He believed firmly
in the interposition of the Lord to save men
from deadly peril. but he believed no less
firmly that men should do everything posi-
BILE to save themselves Therefore while he
prayed fervently for the Lord to save him,
his mind was active IN suggestions for escape.
But one set had to be abandoned On Saturday
another on Sunday. Monday wrecked an
other: Tuesday seemed to exhaust every
hope, and Wednesday he confessed to himself
that unless the Lord INTERVIEWED he had but
one day more to live. He prayed the live
long day, though the rebels flung taunts and
jeer7 at him through the cracks in the to-
co-house. and the men vino brought in his
food did not spare him insulting reminders
of the nearness of his end. He watched the
sun 90 down with stTaining eyes for some
sign that he could feel was meant for him.
WeatheTwise beyond most men, he saw that
a terrible storm was gathering on the mount
aims, and his heart rose with the thought that
tflS W3S III answer 10 MS prayers.
When the wind, the thunder and the light
ming came he could not forbear hurting taunts
back at his captors, and exulting in their
terror. The camp lay in the path of the
tornado, and ii tore through, uprooting trees,
demOlishing even the solid log cabins and
prostrating the tents All was wild confusion
and terror. A large shellbark hickory stand
ing to the left and rear OF the tobacco-house
struggled calamity with all its iron sinews
against the oyermastering fury Of the storm,
and then fell across the rear end of the to-
faccO-house with a deafening crash. Two OF
the most brutal OF the guards were caught
beneath its giant frank ard crushed into
pulp The Elder was in the front of the
house looking out on the ruin III the camp,
and singing loudly hymn Of thanksgiving
and praise He turned as the crash came,
and his quick mind instantly interpreted that
here was the deliverance the Lord had sent.
He sprang over the trunk almost before ii
quit qulyering and made his way through
the camp TO the road.
An hour before daylight Robert Inrule,
drenched to lie skin, but still mistaken in
purpose, stopped with his sons on little
bridge to wait for the others to close up.
They had yet a couple Of miles to go to reach
the camp. They were looking with the ut
most intentness at the road they had to 60
for some revelation by the lightning of what
might he before them. There came crash
of thunder, and the whole landscape was
illumined with vivid light. Apparently.
in the very center of it they saw the Elder
coming toward them over knoll not 100
yards away.
Then all was pitchy darkness again.
8 Pap" shouted the excited Reuben, ''did
you see the Eder?n
g / thought | did, my son. replied Robert
Inrule, but ! wuz afeared t. believe hit /
thought mebbe my mind WIZ gvin' way"
" Hit sartinly wuz the Elder or the Elders
sperit" said Bildad
= Pm a-gwine t. find ont whether hit air
man or a ghost" shouted Reuben, running
forward and calling, Elder Stornmont!
Elder Stofnmoat!"
Here | am, Reuben, replied the Elder,
in a voice which rang out clear and distinct
above the roar OF the rain.
To he continued
ARMY AND NAVY GOSSIP.
Secretary Long has added two members