The herald., 1898-04-17
CUTTING The BRIDGE

The orderly slouched through the drip
ping woods, his rife resting lightly in the
hollow OF his arm in the direction Of the
hut Deaf Smiths scouts occupied.
There's some'in' up. boys, I tell ye =
said a broad-shouldered frontiersman,
putting aside the rifle he had been clean
ing and following the orderlys move
ments.
Looks that way" grunted companion
from across the camp fire. "A skinny
little chap got in from back toward the
Sabine today all covered with yellow mud.
They say he come from Col Rusk."
"Yeap," said the first speaker; "they
say that Col Rusk Is comm down from
Liberty with about 300 men,"
"Reckon that means a scrimmage." SAID
che other, "and I'm right glad of It. We
have been in this NANCY lumber fer nigh
on to two months now with them blamed
ersasers in easy rife range, an l tell ye
the boys is gettin' tired. They want tc
Tight"
The orderly disappeared in the hut He
reappeared Immediately with a slightly
built, sun-burned chap in new bucksk!r
suit.
That's young Lane" said the man with
the rifle as the glare Of the fire lit up the
young mans face.
As Lane stepped into the tent his nos
trils were saluted by the resinous scent Of
q burning pine knot mingled with the fra
grant odor of Mexican cheroots. At tbs
head Of light camp table sat General
Houston, his gaunt face wreathed in blue
smoke On the generals right sat Col
Smith and opposite him two other officers
whom Lane did not know.
The general ran his fingers reflectivel,
through his long hair and smoked in 81
lence. all the while looking ptently a
Lane. Lanes nerves t!ngled under tha
searching gaze.
"Mr. Lane Colonel Smith wants you tc
60 somewhere with him tonight" LAM
bowed slightly, and the general continued
You seem to like excitement. 1 think
you'll have a little before morning." H,
smiled grimly and extended his hand, which
Lane srasped and shook warmly.
"Well," said Smith, rising and saluting
I'VE amt got any time to spare. Good
night. gentlemen. Well see you later
and. grinning genally. he raised the tent
nap and disappeared into the night. Lane
followed.
Smith made his way past the smoldering
eampf1res, over the snoring forms, di.
rectly to his hut, Lane stumbling after him
"Guess we won't go in. No use wakin' ur
the boys They mout be curious anyway
Take UP the ak, my lad, and come with
me-"
They walked swiftly and with little noise
through the tangled underbrush, soaked
by the rain that had begun at noon ant
kept UP until nightfall, until they were {
quarter Of mile from the slumberina
camp. Smith halted under a widespread
ing oak, sat down on a gnarled root ant
cut a piece of tobacco, chewed refectivel,
for a moment and then began:
Lane, we got ticklsh job before us
Col. Rusk'll jine the oil man bout sunu,
with 800 men, an 'there'u be a small argv
ment hyarabouts in the mawnin Now
the oil man doesn't want any of the ereas
ers to git away this time, SO he's sent u
round behind 'em to cut the Crows Ne>
creek bridge. The creeks sweled by tn
rains till 1t amt to be forded anywhere, an
when we git that bridge cut we got 'en
In trap"
The creek was eight miles away an,
Ahumada's army separated them from il
but two months experience in Texas ha,
taught Lane the virtue of silence
Smith continued: Now, there amt M
chance of our gettin' round their outposts
It's too fur. We got to sneak through
'em. You got to be peart and quiet, m,
lad"