Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-11

the genera VIII &c yy5s r-yz--g To-
his command away from an overwhelm-
ing force came up before me; could
see him throwing back his head to get
a look at his favorite star. Though we
were galloping, coidd not resist the
temptation to look dP- There in the
zenith, peering down at us ike an eye
in the heavenly dome, was Alpha Lyra.
"Lool, Margaret" cried. There is
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 di-
verified, for just then, swinging around
a bend, we came upon the ford. The
road sloped gradually down to the
river. which flowed by as lazily as If no
one was in any hurry whatever.
'sNow, see here" / said with a GER
tain composure that would OCCASION
ally surprise me by breaking the rapid
current of impulse within me, eve must
lay a plan. 1t won't do to go blind any
farther. What do you propose. cor
poral?"
"You and the young lady git over The
river, find a nigger's cabin, and hide till
tomorrow night"
That's your plan; Miss Beach,
what's yours?"
IF we can find boat, we had better
go up the river. When they come here
they'll probably think we have crossed.
| At any rate, there will be three ways
for them TO track us-acrOss. down
and up the river, and they won't know
which we have taken. If we can reach
Doughty's ford, where we crossed when
we came, we will have a straight road
home"
But we must leave our horses, and
we'll need them when we take tc land
again"
II can walk from the upper ford,
said Margaret, If we can only ge'
there; I've walked there and back from
home often. It's only five miles"
"All right, and now for sl<iff- PUNK
you go down stream, and I'll go up
But there must be a limit 20 our search
neither of US had better be away more
than ten minutes. If we're not sue
cessful within that time well abandon
the plan"
PUNK went Off on his search will
more speed than had ever before seel
In his deliberate person. Margare
wished to disnount, and / helped he
TO the ground, tied her horse to sap
ling, and started on my hunt up tn
river. 1 followed the high bank, look
ing down on the margin as went along
but used up my ten minutes withou
success. Turning reluctantly, l start
ed back to the ford hoping that Plum
had had better luck. On the way
espied path leading down TO the rive
that had escaped my notice on my wa
out; following it 10 the brink. there i
a little cove partly hiddennmong bushe
was a Ticlxety hat-bottoned punt, fas
tened to tree by chain and pao
lock. smashed the paddock with
stone, khen began TO look about for tn
! oars, which / felt must be near, an
. found a couple of short paddles leanin
, ! up against a tree. Getting into III
) punt, l showed of shore, and a fe
= strokes, aided by the current, took II
= down to the ford. Margaret was c
the shore waiting. and was overjoye
10 SC lllC al oDA~e ~ 'N.AN 80
returned few moments before emp'
handed. He loosened his horse, ar
mounting. rode down TO the river
:. let the tired beast drink.
: 'What are you doing?" 1 asked, su
prised.
t "rm going back after that tiou
faced deserter."
e You'll be captured"
t ''Never youmind, lieutenant haver
r secuted ever since this war began f
d nothing. When ] go back there I'll
d somebody different from what 1 am
IS There was no time for debate. Ma
l. garet was in the boat, seated in I
d. stern. 1 began TO pull up the stream
d 'Good-by," i said 10 PUNK. IL no
you won't have TO tell many lies"
~ can't see. lieutenant" called I
corporal. chow v kin ruckencile '
conscience to takin' another MAJ
boat"
"Oh, go on" And I pulled out
hearing.