The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-11-23

we are going to do till we get to the
river" iii. u
We pushed on with renewed yigor.5
The many night rides had taken with
the general when he was trying to get
his command away from an overwhelm-
ing force came up before mel could
see him throwing back his head to get
look at his favorite star. Though we
were galloping. I could not resist the
temptation to look up. There in the
zenith, peering down at US like an eye
in the heavenly dome, was Alpha Lyra.
"Look, Margaret" cried. '"There is
the generals star" 80 +. t%s
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" I said with GER
tain. composure that would occasion
ally surprise me by breaking the rapid
current of impulse within me, 1--WE 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 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 straight road
home" 49,.
But we must leave our horses, and
we'll need them when we take to land
again"
II can walk from the upper ford,
said Margaret, IF we can only get
there; I've walked there and back from
home often. It's only five miles,"
Gall right, and now for skiff. Punk
you go down stream, and I'll go up
But there must be limit to our search;
neither of us had better be away more
than ten minutes. If we're not sue
cessful within that time We'll abandon
the plan"
PUNK went off on his search with
more speed than had ever before seer
in his deliberate person. Margaret
wished to dismount, and I helped bel
to the ground, tied her horse to sap
ling, and started on my hunt up thu
river. I followed the high bank, look
ing down on the margin as Iwentalong
but used up my ten minutes without
success. Turning reluctantly, start
ed back to the ford hoping that Plunl
had had better luck. On the way
cspied path leading down to the rive7
that had escaped my notice on my way
out; following it to the brink, there il
a little cove partly hidden among bushe!
was a rickety hat-bottomed punt, fas
tened to tree by a chain and pad
lock. I smashed the paddock with :
stone, then began to look about for tn
oars, which I felt must be near, ant
found a couple of short paddles leaning
up against tree. Getting into tn
punt, 1 showed off shore, and few
strokes, aided by the current, took M
down to the ford. Margaret was OF
the shore waiting, and was overjoyet
to see me pulling boat, for PUNK hat
returned few moments before empt,
handed. He loosened his horse, AM
mounting, rode down to the river t.
let the tired beast drink. 49,.
"What are you doing?" asked, sur
prised.
I'm going back after that flour
faced deserter."
"You'n be captured"
''Never youmind, lieutenant, 4 haven
secuted ever since this war began TO
nothing. When go back there I'll b
somebody different from what I am"
There was no time for debate. Mar
garet was in the boat; seated in tn
stern. began to pull up the stream.
"Good-by," said to Punk. II hop
you won't have to tell many ies.''', -.
II can't see, lieutenant" called tn
corporal, show y kin ruckencile We
conscience to tal<in' another man.
boat" .-
"Oh, go on" And 1 pulled out O
hearing.
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XVII.