Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-03-07


exposure. he might easily have passed.
ia ule dim light OF the tent. for n for
eigner
sit down. sit down." Genercl Grrb
said. pointing with the toe OF his boot
TO camp stool near him. Then he
scratched Ia, bullet shaped head. GOV.
cred with h-,stly. iron gray hair. and
dealt out the young msn's orders.
There were dispatches 10 be cnrried
through the lines. and he had been So
lcctcd for tie duty.
iioie YCnte said your prayers: you
am likely 90 come out Of this scrape
with whole skin" General Grub said.
lien after moments hesitation he
suffered. Hot. amt itE' He looked
UP with pleased. childlikc smile. that
cherub might have envicd. stuck a
cigar into his mouth. and. buncbino
the dispatches together. put them into
a soiied linen envelope tied il with 2
on or pink tape extracted from his
pocket. sealed il and handed il to
Fielding. Pink tape and battle were
much moro !u General Grub's line than
red tape aud drawing rooms. When
this was finished. he rose. the sword
SO much too large for him in thp time
or peace. 50 much too saall ia time
OF war. clankng at his side.
Good night. sir" Fielding said.
&c '"i night. sir; good night. and
these uiggcrs be hanged"
As you like. sir" Fielding answered.
smiling. AMI when his superior o.licer's
haud. with It's SiClhy finger nails bit
Ten To the qu.ciS. graSpcd H.. aud gave
II jerky shake ne felt sudden. over
whclming enthusiasm for the task set
him. IL seemed glorious 10 ride through
the enemies line with every chance Of
being butchered by them at their own
convenience The night on which he
began his return Journey To General
Grub's cncampmout was propitious.
for cold. drizzly fog had set in For
Sin long hours Fielding picked his way
through the wet uudcrbIush. his mare
slipping on The boESy ground. while
dripping branches that he could not
see struck hiiu in the face with the
sting Of a lash. At the mOnOtOnOus gait
necessary the hours seemed like eter-
mites spreading out into the pall-like.
eXpectant silence about him. lie would
=
I'll the woods with 4 shout or spur his
horse into hrealnvck galop- any
thing seemed more hcarablc than the
endless creeping forward. with nothing
but the intcrm.nahlc drip. drip OF the
rain on tie leaves 10 break the still
ness. Al the crossroads hc mounted
and rode on little more rapidly for n
few moments. Then his horse stopped
short. with a frightened while Field
ing. erect. his hand on the trigger
pcered into the battling darkness. In
the silence the watch i'm his pocket
tlcked out the time with nervous rapid
ity. the minutes seeming 20 tumble
over each other in their haste To 2, I
away. Seeing nothing he was on the
point OF urging hiS mare forward
when his ears. sharpcncd 10y thc strain
OF the past hours. caught the mufied
sound made hy feet on spougy ground,
and aS hc looked again the shadow at
the side Uf the road moved and crept
stcalthily toward him. IIc raised his
revolver. but. before he could fire. his
horse. shying violently. bolted
"Parada" shouted number Of
voices. while unnumbcrcd ~paradas"
beat waVcring retreat into the forest
Fielding turned quickly in the saddle
10 be blinded for moment by the
glare of 4 dark lantern turned upon
him. When he had grown accustomed
10 the white light. he took In the Rem
brandilikc scene in the road behind
him. y group Of half dozen men. in
sl0uch hats and long capeS. stood hud-
died together at one side, while the
stream OF yellow light from the lantern
held aloft by one OF them fell upon the
leader. standing "A few feet In advance
and threw his head and shoulders into
bold relief. Fielding took deliberate
aim and fired. as = bullet carried away
his hat. IN answer the lantern fell to
the ground with metallic clang and
darkness Sprang toward him over the
road
The men behind him were Still firing
at random when his mare stumbled
almost on TO her knees. Before she
could more than recover herself Field
ing'S pistol was knocked from his
hand. his arnS were pinned 10 his side,
while he was nearly lifted from the
saddle Ivy the bcarlikc hug Of man
who hai ridden suddenly upon him
from the Side oT the road. \ short
sharp strl%@lV began. both men fight
ing to win. the newcomer. who was
the fresher ana more heavily built. get
ting the better of The American. BY a
sudden wrench Fielding freed his left
hand and struck out. with closed fist. at
what Ia The darkness he took TO be his
opponents head TEe fellow cursed
him roundIy. grippcd tighter for mo-
ment. then his hands lOOSened. and
Fielding knew from the duh thud
made by heavy body falling TO the
earth that hr was free OF his trouble
some companion His mare started
into bre. Ancck gallOp for home, the
rideriesS horse following from Sheer
fright. the rapid beat OF its hoofs n
ghOStly echo OF those 0f his mares
The worst Of his scrape over. Fielding
had time TO become conscious of duh
ache i'm his shoulder and leg and ON
putting his hand into his boot found
ii fun Cf blood.
"Iicllo.' he said. I'm hit. You must
sun Mi thr faster. BETTY" hp added