Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-09-06
by
Captain r. A. Mitchell,

|
calm and steady. Whether it was that
they were cowed by the weapon or ad-
mired this evidence of womans pluck,
they opened way. The captain, seiz-
Ing the opportunity, quickly took Jack
by the hand and led her after her
cousin. Once beyond the ring, he as
sisted the girls to mount, then, mount
ing himself. the three rode away, fol-
lowed by cheer. AS for me, breath
ed one long sigh of relief.
"Well. Ginger" said Buck, "reckon
eff we uns air goin to git to Sparty to-
morrer We'll have to travel all night"
us the Niger takin yo' to Sparty or
air yo' takin the niggerY asked one
of the men.
DAT amt gwine to max no differ"
said Ginger. MARS Buck an l DON
never had no trouble. Mars Buck, he's
my mars till gifts to de new one"
Buck led his horse to the log and
| mounted, giving me significant look.
as much as to say, II won't desert
you." then rode away, followed by Gin
ger, with the remark:
"Goodby, yo' fellers. Much 'bliged
70 the good time"
The restraint Of the girls presence
being no longer felt. the mems behavior
changed in a twnkling. The captains
absence left Pete Halliday. the worst
man in the gang, free to foment trou-
Bile. and he began to do SO by sneering
at his chief for being brought. as he
expressed it. under petticoat govern
ment. There appeared TO be two fac
tons in the band-the one headed by
Halliday or Jaycox and the other by
Captain Ringold. Halliday set about
instigating the guerrillas, or. rather,
his adherents, to 60 after Helen and
Jack and bring them back for another
dance. To make matters worse, one
Of the men found some applejack. and
1t was not long before the gang were
half drunk. Meanwhile the captain
returned and received hearty cursing !
from Halliday and his adherents. Sew.
eral of them started to bring back the
girls, but Ringold drew upon them and |
threatened to shoot them unless they |
returned. They staggered back. grum- |
bling, and the captain adrotly pro-
posed another pull at the applejack.
This diverted them. and after finishing
the liquor one after another sank into
a drunken slumber. |,
1t was midnight. Every member Of |
the band was asleep save the man who |
was deputed to guard me. He was sit.
ting on piece Of frewood, so placed |
that he could watch ige across the
fame. lay on my back looking up at
the stars and fcatherlike clouds that
now and again foated across the great |
blue dome, the only motion apparent
save the tree tops bending under an &C.
casional breeze. The fire fiickered, the
guard nodded and an owl in the dis
lance gave an occasional boot.
l heard something stir in the under
brush. CHANGING aside, | saw a small
light disk over bush. 1t was the face
Of little Buck.
Now, In the name of all the gods, will
those devoted friends never give over
risking their lives in these useless at
What is to happen now? l
an order 20 the boy to 60
away. but he paid no attention TO it.
came sliding along the
ground and lodged against me. The
guard heard 1t, started, cast a quick
glance at me. then about him. but,
seeing nothing, relapsed into his for
mer quletude. l felt for what had
struck me and clasped Jackknife.
Meanwhile Buck disappeared, but
soon appearing again in his place, held
up n carbine. he had doubtless stolen
It from one of the men who slept on
the edge of the circle about the fire.
Again he disappeared, and | watched
eagerly for his return. The guard was
still awake. though nodding, but had I
he been more watchful he would not
likely have discovered Buck, for the
lnderbrush, both where the boy ap
1eared to me and where it skirted the
sleeping guerrillas, was so thick thit
n passing around the camp he was
safe from observation.
Besides for most Of the distance Buck
raversed in his gun foray the guad's
,ack was toward him.
| watch the point where Bucks lead
Ippeared. expecting to see 1t a;ain,
tut in its stead presently see two White
,oints. Straining my eyes. discern
he whites Of two eyes, then black Z
ace. !
1t is Ginger. A white line .ppears (.
iireatly below the eyes, and he show
ne his teeth in Il smile. He Rises his /
lrm. and. behold, another gun Again
white line of teeth. and heputS the
Weapon down. Five, 10. 10 minutes =
lapse. Ginger holds his grolnd. Has -
he gone to sleep? No. Anfher five =;
and he holds up anfher gun. =,
Nh. | see. Little Buck, with catlike y,
read. is gathering in the arms. That's =,
veil. He is far better fitte for such %,
elicate work than a stiff olCnegro.
The little pantomime begns to take
hape in my mind and brig anticipa-
ions Of more than fight or my own
ife. If l can escape and Buck and
finger secure sufficient ans. 1t may
" possible for all our paty 10 get to- 10