The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-20
CHAPTER III,
A PRISONER OF WAR,


Lieutenant Oakman's mare was as
quick as her rider to perceive their dan
ger She whirled like lightning and
started down the edge of the wood with
the speed Of the wind Had the officer
been given a moments warning. he
would have turned her into the trail
and made for the open highway beyond.
But the shifting of position caused by
her advance upon the negro lad took
her away from the most promising
opening, while the Confederate. who
had ordered the lieutenant to surrender
was nearer the path than the officer.
Consequently to make for it would
have been to rush upon his fate.
Oakman knew he would be fred upon
the moment he refused to surrender
He threw himself forward on the neck
Of his mare and damned his spur with
cruel force into her ribs, while he drew
his revolver and held it ready for use
the instant the necessity should arise.
The rife aimed at the rider rang out
but though the shot grazed his head he
was unframed
"Now, Fanny, do your best. My fate
rests with you'll
And Fanny did do her best. She was
going like an arrow along the margin
Of the cotton field toward the drowsy
mansion and the winding highway be-
yond. Had she darted into the wood on
her left she might have distracted the
aim Of her masters enemies, but she
would have become inextricably involv-
ed among the trees and underground.
She preferred the open, with its great
er peril, for it was there that her sup
PIE limbs had full play, and never did
she do her duty more CALAMITY.
But those graybacks knew how to
shoot. Nothing would have been east
er than to have brought down the mare,
thus securing the rider, but every south
erner is a prime judge of horsefesh,
and their purpose was to obtain both
man and animal. Lieutenant Oakman
was no more than fairly started on his
fierce flight, when the sharp crack of a
second rifle rang out, and this time the
bullet hit the target.
It felt to the rider as if a flaming
needle had ripped along his ri ght arm,
SO benumbing flesh and muscle that the
revolver dropped from his nerveless
grasp. He knew he had caught it from
that second bullet, but he did not
change his posture on his flying mare
nor weaken in his resolution to gel
away from his enemies.
It was useless to prick her side witE
the bloody spur, for she was doing he;
utmost. Still unframed, she would
quickly bear her rider beyond rife
range if there was no interference
Unfortunately that interference cam,
at the critical moment She checked
her flight and wheeled to one side will
such quickness that any one less than :
perfect horseman would have been f1unf
headlong from his saddle. That which
checked her was the apparition of. =:
man who leaped out from the edge O.
the wood directly in front of her and
with his gun held at dead level, called
mo use, Yankl Haul down tn,
star spangled banner quicker n light
ming or up to glory you gol''
The lieutenant had no carbine, and
his sword was useless. There was NJ
passing that grim figure in SLOUGH ha
and tattered gray uniform who chad
the DROP on him, if any one man eve
held another at such disadvantage.
Il surrender, Johnny. You've got i
in for me this time
II reckon so. It's squar' deal. NJ
aces up your sleeve?'' persisted tn