The Princeton union., 1899-11-09

r-SD
cradle; we were greatly fatigued, md
he gave an order for a brief rest before
setting out. :
We were halted on hillside. Be-
meath us three roads met, a fourth lead
| ing over the hill in our rear. The men
were all back in the woods, the general
q few rods in advance with a field glass.
was Tying on my stomach on the
ground opposite Walter, who was in
the same position, with pack Of cards
between us-I always carried cards in
my saddle pouch. Walter had won Q
pot Of fractional currency, and was rak
ing it in, when glanced aside at the
general, intent on the lower country
to the south. @ ..zs
"Great guns! look there" i.
On every road column of confed-
crates was coming to eat us up. There
was little Of the confederates to be seen
for the dust, but here and there the sun
shone on their accoutrements and arms,
as they moved along the roads, looking
for all the world like gigantic snakes.
At that moment Wilton and Snaffle
rode up and reined in behind clump
of underbrush. .-f.....
"Rebels on every road, and force
coming down the mountain from the
rear" -'s- s5.@" -
II t-t-t-ell you, Wilton, the mans a
f-f-fool to get us into such a f-f-fix."
II consider him genius"
They did not see the staff engaged at
cards, or they would never have dis
cussed the general so freely in our
hearing. .,.s ..... '......r:
"A g-genius! I've read every book
on the science of war, and damme il
I can find anything he ever does in
the index. He violates every principle
laid down from julius Caesar to Ma
poleon." -
II don't remember that either o1
them paid much attention to the au
thorities of their day. Wait moment;
he has caught on to something" =
The general was looking intently al
the dry bed of creek on the right
running parallel with a road, along
, which a column of cavalry was coming
at canter.
Colonel"
.. The word rang out in the same sharl
key as a rifle-ball that just then cu
a twig above our heads.
eyes, general"
'Move your men back of that clum]
of trees, down into the bed of yonde1
creek. Major, you follow. No bugles
Whisper the orders. Quick"
Two officers dashed backward int
> the .thicket.
"Halloo, there; where's the staff?
It was the general calling.
I grabbed the cards and the shinplas
ters at the same time, and made
bound for my horse tethered to sap
: ling.
"Here, general" 1 said, saluting
;, ride quick to Col. Rourke and Ma
Ping and tell them to follow the 9th
y ers into the bed of the creelz.''
"I'll go to Rourke, you to Ping"
= shouted to Walter. We were off a
- fast as the ground would let us, lea1
: ing the general peering at the az
= preaching columns. | got back frs
= and the general Eotioned me to kee
7 to the rear. Wilton's regiment wa
7 fling down over stones and under
= brush to enter the creek bed. We coul
4 see only few files as they passed il
- and the enemy could not see them q
= all. In trice had the generals ide;
~ He was intending to screen the me
behind the high banks of the creel
n moving them out of the trap, Will
4 the confederates on the road runnin
\ parallel with the creek were moving
an opposite direction to capture us.
Will the men all get in before tl
rebels come up? 1t is despera1
chance. If we have the luck to e
through without their getting the
): eyes or ears on us, we may escape.
they catch us there we will be slaugl
,e tered like cattle in pen. There E
Snafhe's troopers, but there is a Ion
"a break between Rourke's and Pings.
"What's the matter with Ping
called the general. Hurry him up"
dug in my spurs, but just the
Pings head of column entered II
3. y. *. e