The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-01-04

q mile above ys-, replied PUNK, Initial
ing the southern accent.
Margaret had ridd en- on, / was keere
ing as far from Bel ante as possible,
Where are you going?' asked the
major, regarding me intently.
What should do2 If I spoke he
would recognize my voice. AS before !
remained silent and PUNK broke in to
help me out.
There's no use askin' him any ques.
tions," he said. "He's deaf as a ferry
boat
PlunlSs odd comparison probably
saved my life. Berante showed his
pointed teeth in a smile, and rode on,
followed by his escort. I breathed one
long sigh of relief, and, riding up to
PUNK, threw my arms about him in an
ecstasy. Then we rode on and reioined
Margaret.
did you recognize a friendf" I
asked of Margaret.
"Hark!"
There were sounds. of more horses
coming. simultaneously we made for
q cover of trees beside the road.
Three horsemen trotted towards us
and passed within a dozen yards. Two
were confederate cavalrymen, the third
great heavens! the third was Enoch
Mellodew.
Not a word was spoken till the mer
were out of earshot; then I exclaimed:
Margaret, wait here while PUNK and
| go after that traitor. We can dash in
on them from the rear, separate them,
and easily capture Mellodew."
You will do no such thing" said
Margaret. "What Importance is Mel.
lodew compared with the information
we bear?"
The young lady is right, lieutenant"
said PUNK. "We can't stop to chase
him now. We need to do the running
ourselves. When the general with.
draws they will remember us. Then
comes this officer who has half sus.
pected us, tells where we are, and thew
light out after us. If I can only cit
you and the girl across the river. I'll
see what I can do towards CALM on
Enoch and remindin' him which side
he belongs on. Git up, George Henry"
And he dug his spurs into his horses
| TANKS.
All realized that we must now place
distance between us and the confed.
crates. I spurred on, striking Mar.
garet's horse with the palm Of my hand,
sending him with a jump in advance
of both PUNK and myself.
oh Time c+on ~, o11.J.
one but US! -.
We rode three abreast, Margaret in
the center, without a word. Trees,
fences, barns, fields, all sailed by us
as we galloped onward. Looking up
to the Sky, there was the same swift
motion, for thin clouds, with here and
there a black one, We're sailing over the
disk OF the moon. Our faces were ex-
Pressive Of our characters. Mine, I am
sure, wore a look of e~xhilaration, for
1 felt all the excitement of a race
a race in which life was the prize and
death the forfeit. Plunk's was stolid
as usual. AS for Margaret, I caught
glimpses of her face whenever a cloud
left the moon, and marked a serenity
and intensity that I have never seen
combined before or since. It expressed
a faith, a hope, that she would complete
a great purpose. Was it carrying the
news of Longstreet's, move? Was il
in diyulging u intentions to the con.
federates? Had she not already told
all to Col. Archard? Or was it in some
way connected with the. events which
| -
had occurred during the first few days
or u meeting--the face at the win.
dow? I know now; then I could only
wonder.
Where the devil are we going?'
PUNK suddenly called.
"Don't know" I painted.
II see a light" said Margaret.
Better ask the way" said PUNK
IN dismount and try for informa.
ton"
I'll do that myself said. 81 want
to have a look at my map"
We were moving so fast that we
cached the light-it was in a log hut
almost before we had finished ou1
talk. I jumped from my horse and
ran to the door. Once there, I waited
a moment to catch my breath so as
not to excite suspicion, then knocked
The door was opened by an old woman
Can you tell me where this road
leads to?"
"Whar It leads too"
"Yes." .
'"The river"
Good crossing?"
"Good crossin'?"
Yes; is there a bridge or a ford?"
You 'uns kin ford it, I reckon
ANY road north on the other side p
ANY road no'th?"
Eyes. Drop your parrot bushes.
and talk quick"
mo road runnin' moth. This road
runs down t Thatcher's. Thurs moth.
in but hills goin' moth"
l entered the cabin, took out my
map, and held it to the light. The
woman was right; after crossing tHs
river there was no road leading north
How near the ford are we?"
How nigh?"
eyes, how nigh? You're mighty par.
ticular about your English"
"Three miles,"
l went out, mounted, and we all rode
on while I informed the others of the
facts I had learned.
1.-THE rebel camp we were in" I said,
lis near McCormick's mills, and that's
about two miles from the river. We
must be very near the ford. If we can
cross, we can keep on this road to
! T~hatcher's, and then up Opossum creek
to the main road leading north to the
plantation.",x :.
ITS purity hard travelin' in a creek
suggested PUNK.
I'VE are wasting time" said, giving