Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-03-17
CHAPTER XII.
TIE DOVE TAVERN.

l had never before and have never since
in cold blood struck violently an unarmed
man. God knows l recoied as felt the
plates of this fellows skull give beneath my
fist. and, though knew my act to be
righteous one, and that had been discov
cred would have had foot of cold steel in
my vitals, l could not at once overcome the
feeling of having committed murder.
Whether or not the man was a sentinel
could not tell. The shiftless way of leaning
his gun against tree and humming made
me doubt it, but it mattered little-he was an
obstacle whose removal was necessary.
was fairly sure there was more to overcome
beyond, but resolved to try strategy in pass
ing unless driven to open violence and even
then my fist should not be my mainstay.
With my temper inflamed, it BODIED i'll for
the man who crossed me; with my pulses
slow and even, it went against my grain to
spill human blood, especially that of one
doing his duty, and this fact alone would
have made me poor soldier for the ranks.
Now | unshipped my sword, drew my
cloak about me, and walked on as openly as
though | was an officer Of grand rounds"
1t was miserable going. In the darkness l
seemed to find and stub every stone and
shoot into as many brambles as might be
discovered in ten-acre wood lot passed
unchalenged through the shallow ravine,
and was wondering if by chance had al
ready cleared the lines, when the works of
an advanced redoubt rose against the dim
sky, and at the same instant there came the
| ring of a musket and voice called: Halt!
Who's there?"
1t was not my plan to halt, or answer
either, for that matter. had located the
Is 1,.1, rsrrlk L,,k !
| was fairly sure that only the noise of my
progress had been marked, and not myself.
Therefore / swung toward the left and hur.
| ried along as rapidly and silently as could,
soon having the pleasure of hearing the SEN
| tinel stumble across my trail some distance
/ in the rear.
had now the redoubt TO flank, and, as the
woods had been cut down at its front as well
as on either side, there was an open space for
me to traverse. Here lowered my dignity
by getting on to all-fours, and, holding my
blade betwixt my teeth, / crept slowly on
ward, taking advantage of every stump and
fallen tree as post to halt and listen. But
these latter were none too frequent, and
used at least an hour in getting the few
hundred feet which lay between the works
and the abatis protecting them. Having
gained the abatis, I rose and felt my way
through the tangled branches of the felled
timber, making deal of noise I thought,
but finally got past and into the woods be
yond. These woods proved to be but strip,
and narrow one at that, for I soon came to
road which served me only in showing my
location, as knew of one crossing from the
Kingsbridge road to another leading to the
village of Greenwich.
was well satisfied with myself and my
progress, considering that the worst was
passed, but my pride underwent sudden
fall when, as l was putting my leg over the
snake fence, q voice came out Of the dark
ness:
Halt! Who goes there?"
"a friend, but without countersign.
Where are your" returned, easily, though
made mighty start.
"Then stay where you be, OF fireP
Every good! Come to me-" answered,
swinging myself back and retreating to a
tree near by, and from that to another.
1t gave me infinite relief to hear the
tramp of horse, and know the man was a
mounted vidette, and in the course of few
seconds he went by me to where had an
swered him, though by then had retreated
along the line of the road and was 40 feet
away Hating his horse, he again chal-
lenged, but, on receiving no answer, fired his
pistol into the woods and began cursing like
. pirate.