Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-10-18

"How nigh?"
"Yes, how nigh3 You're mighty par.
ticular about your English"
"Three miles,"
went out, mounted, and we all rode
on while informed the others OF tho
facts had learned.
1.-THE rebel camp we were In" said,
near Mccormick mills, and that's
about two miles from the river. We
must be very near the ford. II we can
GROSS, we can keep on this road to
Thatcher's, and then up Opossum creek
10 the main road leading north to the
plantation"
"It's purity hard travelin' in q creek"
suggested PUNK.
eve are wasting time" said, giving
my horse spur. "Never mind what
we are going to do till we get to the
river"
We pushed on with renewed vigor.
The many night rides had taken with
the general when he was trying to get
his command away from an overwhelm-
ing force came up before me; could
see him throwing back his head to get
look at his favorite star. Though we
were galloping, could not resist the
temptation to look up. There in the
zenith, pesring down at us like an eye
In the heavenly dome, was Alpha Lyra.
"Look, Margaret" I cried. "There 10
the generals star"
She threw back her head Just as /
had seen the general do. There was
that In the motion which seemed in
some mysterious way to link his being
with hers. But my attention was d.
verified, for Just then, swinging around
bend, we came upon the ford. The
road sloped gradually down to the
river. which flowed by as lazily as If nc
one was In any hurry whatever.
"Now, see here" said with Ger
tain composure that would OCCASION
ally surprise me by breaking the rapid
current of impulse within me, I'VE mus
lay plan. 1t won't do to go blind any
farther. What do you propose, cor
poral2"
"You and the young lady git over th'
river, find nigger's cabin, and hide til
tomorrow night"
"That's your plan; Miss Beach
what's yours7"
IF we can find boat, we bad bette
go up the river. When they come her
they'll probably think we have crossed
At any rate, there will be three way
!. for them to track us-across, dow
and up the river, and they won't kno,
,, which we have taken. If we can reac
! Doughty's ford, where we crossed whe
we came, we will have straight roa
home"
"But we must leave our horses, an
/, we'll need them when we take to Ian
again"
"I can walk from the upper ford,
y said Margaret, 'if we can only &c
!, there; I've walked there and back fror
home often. It's only five miles"
"An right, and now for skiff. Plum
you go down stream, and I'll go W
- But there must be limit to our search
neither of US had better be away NOR
~ than ten minutes. II we're not su,
cessful within that time we'll abando
n the PLAN"
:. PUNK went off on his search wit
y more speed than had ever before see
4 in his deliberate person. Margart
II wished to dismount, and helped hi
N to the ground, tied her horse to sal
Ie ling, and started on my hunt up tt
!" river. I followed the high bank, lool
q ing down on the margin as Iwentalonl
but used up my ten minutes witho,
. success. Turning reluctantly, star
/ ed back to the ford hoping that Plum
r had had better luck. On the way
d, espied path leading down to the rive
se that had escaped my notice on my wa
out; following it to the brink, there
y little cove partly hidden among bush'
was rickety fat-bottomed punt, ia
IA tened to a tree by chain and pa
Q, lock. I smashed the paddock with
IL stone, then began to look about for IL
,p oars, which felt must be near, AZ
# found couple Of short paddles leanir
ID up against tree. Getting into Il
le punt, showed off shore, and fe
K strokes, aided by the current, took n
N down to the ford. Margaret was {
d the shore waiting, and was overjoy'
= to see me pulling boat, for Punk hi
ID returned few moments before emp
ID handed. He loosened his horse, a,
ut mounting, rode down to the river
ID let the tired beast drink.
y what are you doing2" asked, ST
" prised.
"a "I'm going back after that hou
. faced deserter."
70 you'll be captured"
!" Never youmind, lieutenant, Ihave,
n. secuted ever since this war began +
10 nothing. When go back there I'll
Ne somebody different from what i am
n There was no time for debate. NJ,
y garet was in the boat, seated in t
=, u stern. 1began to pull up the stream
y "Good-by," I said to PUNK. ~ no
NJ, you won't have to tell many lies"
II can't see, lieutenant" called t
corporal, show y kin ruckencile y
conscience to takin' another ma,
: boat"
a. =. "oh, go on" And 1 pulled out
hearing.
XVII.
70 RIVER FLIGHT.
W There uaa m r,,dda ar IN fha hoa% h