The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-10-09

last. wed better stop an fight 'emW
81 think you'd better stop talking
and save your breath for walking"
Reckon we better stop" said Gin
ger, IAN thank de Lawd fo' lettin us
out o dat trap an pray TO dem g'rillas
T. git los in de wilderness"
I'VE can do that while we're walk
ing" said Helen. land not lose any
time
Spec de pra'rs on de knees IL mo
efiicacerous." replied Ginger. but meb-
be we don't need 'em like we did n spell
ago."
still there was no sound In our rear.
Helen asked II | did not think that
keeping the road was pretty risky.
told her that | would soon give the
word to take to the woods. Coming to
n point where there was turn. leav.
ing straight piece Of road back Of us.
| told the rest to go on while waited
and watched. | stood casting glances
back till my army reached another
turn in advance, then, pressing for
ward. caught up with them. In this
way | kept them in the road and main
tained rear watch ut the same time
for nearly half an hour. Then the
strength of the party, which had thus
far been supplied by excitement, sud
denly began TO droop, and |, feeling
that | had used all the energy there
was in them, led the way Off the road
into the heart OF the forest. We had
scarcely got into the woods when we
heard a gathering of hoofs on the road.
Whether they were made by the guer-
rllas' horses or not did not know, but
felt sure they were. We waited till
they were out of hearing, then every
one sank down on the ground.
"Now, Ginger" | said. 'it is a good
time to give thanks"
Getting on his knees, Ginger poured
out the thanks of the party in words
that came as smoothly and plentifully
as the waters of n running stream. |,
being of that persuasion which has for
its motto. Trust in God. but keep
your powder dry" and, seeing that Gin
ger was disposed TO prolong his thanks
| giving indefinitely, got up and started
to find a convenient place to hide. |
SOOn STRUCK u lllllt poChtl lplllth Wy
the coming together of several declivi.
ties and surrounded by thickets. A lit
tie runnel passed through 1t, and
| STOPPING down. | quenched thirst that
was burning me. Returning to the
| party. | led them to the retreat ! had
found for them. then left them TO go In
search of provisions.
I .a1
half n mile. when | saw the lights of
Tracy City. Going to the town and
selecting n house standing apart from
the rest, | marched boldly up to 1t and
knocked at the door. 1t was opened
by n girl. the only occupant of the
place. a wild eyed creature In dingy
calico. unshod, her square cut locks
tucked behind her ears. She appeared
to be in chronic state of fright and
evidently thought me one of those men
who were going about taking advan.
| tage of the absence of restraint induced
by war to help themselves TO whatever
they wanted. asked her for some
food and n few cooking utensils. and
when | paid her for them she was
struck dumb with amazemcnt. re-
turned to camp with provisions. match.
es, skillet and n colfcepot
Ginger and Buck had gathered a
little wood for the fire. Al the inner
extremity of the pocket we occupied
was n low ledge of overhanging rock.
1t projected but n few feet and was
about the height of little Buck from tho
ground | hcsitated for some time
whether II would not be dangerous to
light a fire and thus guide our enemies
to where we were. but at last conclud
ed to place the wood under the ledge
and cover the front with boughs. Driv.
ing three stakes into the ground.
placed the wood under them and light
cd II. Then. filling my coffeepot with
water from the stream and putting In
my coffee. very pleasant odor sooi
greeted our nostrils.
But all were too famished to wait fol
cooked supper Selling upon some
corn pone | had brought. the others de
voured II eagerly. restraining my ap
petite long enough to put some bacor
into the skillet. One article of foot
after another was devoured as II was
got ready. and our coffee without mill
came in at the end like the last course
at dinner.
AS soon as we had finished our sup
per we put out the fire, laid bough'
where II had been and covered then
with dry leaves. making bed for thu
two girls and Buck. Ginger was Il
bivouac wherever he liked. while | pro
M TIT ME -NWTI n