Willmar tribune., 1900-01-03


trees between nhi and CON
tinued to do SO for an hour without rest.
Then I took ten minutes off. After
that 7 walked again till three o'clock,
when the absurdity at walking an i'm
aginary beat to watch for something
that had only q 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 I remem-
ber was congratulating myself that if
any remarkable event should take place
was in exactly the position to see it.
lieutenant 49,.
1.-THE devil!"
A second time I had been caught
sleeping on post. looked up, and saw
Margaret standing beside me. 1t was
broad day.
II beg your pardon; / thought"
stammercd.
'Look."
Five thousand cavalry were march
ing northward through the valley.
Whoever has seen such a sight can
never forget it. Five thousand men
and 5000 horses. First rode thin line
deployed across the road, it's wings ex-
tending to the right and to the left.
Then came knot of men, the COM
manding general and his staff. They
were followed at some distance by q
smaller knot, doubtless the commander
of the advance brigade. Then came the
line by regiments, squadrons, COM
panies, platoons, the men in the ranks,
the officers in their respective posi-
tions. 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 squadron that had fallen
behind was pushing along at brisk
trot or a gallop to overtake the corps
to which it belonged.
margaret" I exclaimed, springing
up; ''you have won. There are the cav
airy; the infantry will go by the rail-
road"
AS spoke, we heard whistle to the
south, a rumbling, a putting, and along
came 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
tance.
Another whistle; another train.
This is made up of platform cars.
What are those great wooden objects
AS they came nearer we discerned the
shape of huge boats. And those piles
of timber? They are connecting pieces
and flooring. 1t is pontoon train.
They will need it to cross the river
above.
margaret, the rumor has become a
fact. That is doubtless Wheeler's cav
airy marching through the valley,
while Longstreet's corps is moving by
rail. They have left Bragg's army be-
fore Chattanooga, and are going to join
the forces threatening Burnside. To
you belongs the credit of the discovery
I was fast asleep, PUNK was asleep, and
had you not watched they would have
passed without our knowing it. The in
formation the general sent for, you
have acquired. You are saved"
"But why is it so important to know
of this move?" asked Margaret, eag-
erly.
Important! That Burnside may be
warned. Grant, knowing that this
force is detached from the army threat
ening Chattanooga, may attack the
weakened lines, break up the beleagur-
ment OF the Army of the Cumberland,
and open an aggressive campaign"
Margaret stood for few moments
looking alternately at me and at the
troops below, then threw back her
head and gave an exhilarating laugh.
1t rang through the ravine, then rose,
like bird that sings as it flies, to the
very heavens. Then she turned and ran
into the cave.
There was something so mocking in
that laugh, so keen relish. such ring
of one who has suddenly acquired the
whip hand of an enemy, that every
doubt had ever had of Margaret sud-
denly rushed back upon me.
What did it mean?
What would now be her purpose?
Would she return with us, or steal
away from us to tell our enemy what
we had been watching for, and thus
give him the advantage?
must wait for an answer.