The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-02
trees between which to walk, and con-

trees between which to walk, and con-
tinued to do so for an hour without rest.
Then l took ten minutes off. After
that walked again till three o'clock,
when the absurdbty of walking an i'm
aginary beat to watch for something
that had only a remote possibility of
occurring struck me with such force
that I sat down on a rock, put my ell
| bows on my knees, and rested my head
in my hands. The last thing remem-
Der was congratulating myself that if
any remarkable event should take place
was in exactly the position to seeit.
"Licutenant."
''The devil!"
A second time had been caught
sleeping on post. I looked up, and saw
Margaret standing beside me. 1t was
broad day.
81 beg your pardon; thought
stammered.
"Look."
Five thousand cavalry were march,
ing northward through the valley.
, Whoever has seen such sight can
never forget it. Five thousand meu
and 5000 horses. First rode a thin line
deployed across the road, its wings cX-
tending to the right and to the left.
Then came Il knot of men, the COM
handing general and his staff. They
were followed at some distance by a
smaller knot, doubtless the commander
of the advance brigade. Then came the
line by regiments, squadrons, COM
panies, platoons, the men in the ranks,
the officers in their respective posi-
tons. The rising sun lit up their bat
tie flags, their guidons, glistened on
their side arms, even tinted with rosy
hue the dust that enveloped them.
They were moving steadily, but horses
will not have the same gait, and here
and there a squadron that had fallen
behind was pushing along at brisk
trot or a gallop to overtake the corps
to which it belonged.
Margaret" 1 exclaimed, springing
up: ''you have won. There are the cav
airy; the infantry will so by the rail
road"
AS spoke, we heard, a whistle to the
south, a runibling, u putting, and along
came a train. 1t was loaded with
troops. They filled the cars, the plat
forms; they swarmed on the roofs.
With a screech from the locomotive
they passed, and were lost in the dis
tance.
Another whistle; another train.
This is made up of platform cars.
What are those great wooden objects?
AS they came nearer we discerned the
shape of huge boats. And those piles
of timber? They are connecting pieces
and flooring. 1t is pontoon train.
They will need it to cross the river
above.
Margaret, the rumor has become a
fact. That is doubtless Wheeler's cav
airy marching through the valley,
while Longstrect's corps is moving by
rail. They have left Bragg's army be-
fore Chattanooga, and arc going to join
the forces threatening Burnside. To
you belongs the Credit of the discovery.
Twas fast asleep, Punk was asleep, and
had you not watched they would have
passed without our knowingit. The in
formation the general sent for, you
have acquired. You are saved"
''But why is it so important to know
of this move?" asked Margaret, eag-
erly.
Important! That Burnside may be
warned. Grant, knowing that this
force is detached from the army threat
ening Chattanooga, may attack the
weakened lines, break up the beleagur.
ment OF the Army of the Cumberland,
and open an aggressive campaign"
Margaret stood for few moments
looking alternately at me and at the
troops below, then threw back her
) head and gave an cxhilarating laugh
1t rang through the ravine, then rose
like bird that sings as it flies, to the
very heavens. Then she turned and ran
into the cave.
There was something so moclking in
that laugh, so keen a relish, such ring
of one who has suddenly acquired the
whip hand of an enemy, that every
doubt had ever had of Margaret sud.
denly rushed back upon me.
What did it mean?
What would now be her purpose?
Would she return with us, or steal
away from us to tell our enemy what
we Had been watching for, and thus
give him the advantage?
must wait for an answer.