Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-11-11
In SILENCE. A HERO.

4
perhaps merely duh. the shimmsr strues
upon hls practiced intuition ana he r~sllzet
that 10 was nearly night
he halted his horse for q moment st
ragged ravine, on whose bank dilspidxtes
shauty had once stood One side OF III
shanty bad slipped into the ravins. and tb
firnsy and deserted building vac twistsc
and yawning.
Beyond the ravine, into shs coulee, 20 thu
little stream whose fierce spring overflow
bad cut the rsvine one day long before sne
undermined the whisky slanty with the pre-
tentious name. the scout rode. now slowly
A pause, and be swung from the saddle
released the long rata from its post and, ,
carrying the end 10 stump, tetherVd his l
horse. They looked for a moment into each
Others eyes. brute and man. but reithes
spoke. though they understood each other
In a few moments blazing grease WOOD
cooked bis coffee and fired the bacon from
his haversack. He ate slowly e. one with
whom eating was a task not 70 be trihed
with. The crimson simmer ia the skS
grew fainter and became gray, cark snc
black IL was night.
Morning broke and be arose. Before bin
lay a vacant prairie and the duty OF the day
lie swung himself back into the saddle ane
rode. rode. rode.
Solitude and silence had been his portion
90 much that language vss to him curie
"a rsrty-e luxury. He seldom heard tia
sound Of q human voice, aud when he die
be Listened deeply and answered deliberate
/ Is, for his supply Of speech was not great
! AZ ne rode there came a scream from iai
overhead shrek. a screeoh But be die
\ not look upward.
= He knew the voice was the voice oi 6
Springfield ball, high IN the air. Man auc
hor.e iay down and waited. Neither move
bat both watched.
On the brow Of little knoll. far away
he saw a bush wave too fast. Il vas tat
away. but he leveled his rife and fired
Then horse and man arose as II by mt
/ tual understanding. and. turning from The
knoll, he rode. the report Of the guns be
hind him merely urging him to hasten.
He WAS not afraid lie was not excited
Late that night he reached the post. de
hvered his orders and turned TO go The
captain stopped him.
Meet anybody on the way ovsrr he
asked.
The scout looked hard. a. II digestlng IN,
query. Then ne thought At last he an
swercd:
only some Indians
-How many'" asked the captain.
'Wss seven said the scout Now ak. F"
"On the warpath?" asked the captain.
The scout looked troubled, a. though
]
, "Thev fired" was ali be said.
Now then the war was on in earnest. B1
the scout ever after avoided the captain Al
a man who talked too much.
The scout had eaten and slept and lay in
differently looking upward az the barraci
; ceiling About him men were brushing uni
forms. playing cards. writing letters. read
, ing papers, mending clothes and engaged II
, the barracks occupations generally.
In the grounds noncommissioned officer
passed 10 and fro bent on the duties Of tn
day. New recruits were being drilled. sing
~ and In squads. Now and again stii
, young lieutenant crossed TO the officers
] quarters or bent on inspection went througl
the form Of examining quarters 20 &c
whether the due; had been properly brushes
= away and the floor duly swept. Pre-,
emily a soldier entered. walked to wher
the scout lay and said:
, Colonel wants you'll"
The scout remained immovable for a fe'
seconds. Then he turned to the messenge
! and looked him squarely IN the eye. In
! moment he recovered his speech.
7. 'Heni'
That was all Then he arose. deliberate
!, dressed. drew on his long boots. buckle
his belt with the ammunition aud revolver
IN place, and stalked 70 quarters The O
derry halted him at the door.
Colonel wants me" he said.
He passed in The colonel ignored n
lack Of salute. for the keen eyed ma
= before him was not a soldier. but civiha
- employe. Then he said
There i a woman here, the wife Of Lieu
Jasper, who Is wounded al the ferry. 81
wants 20 join her husband You must guiC
Z her over"
- The scout looked half terrified
'Woman!" he asked The question had
,, world Of meaning, for the colonel knew
>, the hostiles on the road. the dangers Of q
IL trail itself, its double dangers for a woma
He nodded.
bad, +" said the scout.
Can't be helped" said the colonel.
l. The scout stood still q moment. Then
turned and walked out. As be reached q
= parade ground he saw . woman before q
officers quarters. The sight revived
l. memory.
- In e few moments he was back at the &
onsl's quarters. bis horse saddled, his bls
-e kets rolled behind the eantle, the rife stu
by the horses side, the rata rolled cal
II fully over the saddle post.
Tell him I'm ready" he said. grufiy
the orderly. The soldier turned in disgu
He was not used to uneeremonious orde'
- But the Scout was impenetraoie. So the
. derby went.
al When the scout was ordered In he saw
little woman wearing a short riding hab
le He looked at her indiderently. The color
In. spoke. saying he was the best scout at :
- post. aud she might feel safe with him
iW sI feel H." she said.
The scout broke silence. Better not g
& he said.
ooh mustl" was her answer.
They rode away 20 gether. All the uie