The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-22
THE REAL SENTRY.
XIII.

corning the generals visit. After
breakfast Margaret and l went out of
the cave into the sunlight and stood
looking down the valley.
"How long before our watching will
prove effective or useless" asked Mar
garet.
"If what we expect does not occur
soon, fear it will not occur at ALL"
"And | must return to my fate"
l did not reply, but looked gloomily
out upon the valley. Turning my eyes
10 the south, my attention was attract
ed by what appeared to be small white
dot.
whats that2" l asked.
"a wagon, an army wagon. I've seen
so many of them that would know one
anywhere"
"And there's another" exclaimed,
as second emerged from behind a hill.
ITS a wagon train"
Slowly wagon after wagon came into
view, till whole train could be seen
| like a white-linlIcd worm crawling up
the valley.
81 don't see what that's for" NUT
tered; they have the railroad for any
transportation they may need"
ut looks as if they were going to use
both wagons and railroad" said Mar
garet.
"You have quite head for guessing
things" l remarked, surprised at her
foresight. This was the first evidence
/ had encountered of Margaret's think
/ To- Il 60 -
soon after.
During the day we noticed stray
squadrons of rebel cavalry passing
northward. A small drove of cattle
made its appearance in the south,
! logged along over the road, and passed
| out of sight Another wagon train APP
1 peared toiled slowly past, and disap-
peared. Then larger body of cavalry
went by, perhaps 500 men. / watched
expcctantly for bigger game, but was
! disappointed. Nothing more of impor
lance appeared, and gave up my eX-
pectation of some momentous occur
renee.
When we began our watch for the
night, Margaret insisted on taking part.
Nonsense" l said.
81 mean it,"
"Do you suppose two able-bodied
men would permit weak woman to di
vide n watch with them?" And
stalked away without deigning another
word.
PUNK, as before, had the first watch.
At ~ o'clock was awakened and walked
to the edge of the dccliyity to begin my
vigil. The weather was splendid, and |
was RECALLED with another view lighted
by the moon. ! made up my mind to
pace beat like a sentinel, that might
be sure to keep awake. | chose two
trees between which TO walk, and con
tinued to do so for an hour without rest.
Then l took ten minutes Off. After
that | walked again till three o'clock,
when the absurdity of walking an i'm
aginary beat to watch for something
that had only remote possibility of
occurring struck me with such force
that | sat down on "A rock, put my ell
bows on my knees, and rested my head
in my hands. The last thing ] rcmem-
Der was cangratulating myself that if
any remarkable event should take place
l was in exactly the position TO see it.
'Lieutcnant."
-''rhe devil!''
A second time / had been caught
sleeping on post. ! looked up, aud saw
Margaret standing beside me. 1t was
broad day.
81 beg your pardon; thought"
stammered.
Look"
Five thousand cavalry were march
ing northward through the valley.
Whoever has seen such sight can
never forget it, Five thousand men
and 5000 horses. First rode thin line
deployed across the road, its wings cX-
tending to the right and to the left
Then came a knot of men, the com
handing general and his staff. They
were followed ut some distance by a
smaller knot, doubtless the commander
of the advance brigade. Then came the
line by regiments, squadrons, com
punies, platoons, the men in the ranks,
the officers in their respective posi-
lions. The rising sun lit up their bat
tie flags, their guidons, glistened on
Their side arms, even tinted with rosy
hue the dust that enveloped them
They were moving steadily, but horses
will not have the same gait, and here
and there "A squadron that had fallen
behind was pushing along at brisk
trot or gallop to overtalle the corps
to which it belonged
Margaret" | exclaimed, springiug
up; you have won. There are the cav
alryi the infantry will go by the rail-
road"
As | spoke, we heard a whistle to the
south rumbling, pulling, and along
came a train. 1t was loaded with
troops. They filled the cars, the plat
forms; they swarmed on the roofs.
With screech from the locomotive
they passed, and were lost in the dis
lance.
Another whistle; another train.
This is made up of platform cars.
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