The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-03-31
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 fired upon
the moment he refused to surrender.
He threw himself forward on the neck
of his mare and jammed 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 rifle aimed at the rider rang out,
but though the shot grazed his head he
was unharmed.
''Now, Fanny, do your best. My fate
rests with your
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 die
she do her duty more gallantly.
But those graybacks knew how t.
shoot. Nothing would have been easi
er than to have brought down the mare
thus securing the rider, but every south
erner is prime judge of horsedesh
and their purpose was to obtain botl
man and animal Lieutenant Oakmal
was no more than fairly started on hi
fierce flight, when the sharp crack of
second rifle rang out, and this time tn
bullet hit the target.
1t felt to the rider as if a faminI
needle had ripped along his right arm
SO benumbing flesh and muscle that tn
revolver dropped from his nerveles
grasp. He knew he had caught it fror
that second bullet, but he did nc
change his posture on his flying mar
nor weaken in his resolution to &c
away from his enemies.
1t was useless to prick her side wit
the bloody spur, for she was doing he
utmost. Still unharmed, she woul
quickly bear her rider beyond riff
range if there was no interference.
Unfortunately that interference cam
at the critical moment. She checke
her fight and wheeled to enc side wit
such quickness that any one less than
perfect horseman would have been fun
headlong from his saddle. That whic
checked her was the apparition of
man who leaped out from the edge {
the wood directly in front of her ant
,, with his gun held at dead level, called
"No use, Yankl Haul down tt
star spangled banner quicker igh
ming or up to glory you gol"
The lieutenant had no carbine, an
: his sword was useless. There was I
passing that grim figure in SLOUGH b;
and tattered gray uniform who cha
, |, the drop" on him, if any one man ev,
held another at such disadvantage.
81 surrender, Johnny. You've got
I. in for me this time
= 'I reckon SO. It's squar' deal n
aces up your sleeve?" persisted tt