Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-09-06

the way up to IA recess in the cliff, ant
l saw ut once position that we coult
hold against Il dozen men so long as w,
had food and ammunition.
Hello" 1t was Jacks CHEEKY voice
"Goody! Amt glad to get out o. tn,
Wilderness"
I'm glad enough" said as soon as
l could get breath to speak, but vol
women
There was no time for words. We
set about rolling big stone into gal
between two others, and as soon as II
was in position had n continuous
breastwork. The guerrillas We're call
ing to each other in the woods below
but they did not seem to know where
we were. | picked up one of the guns
Ginger had thrown down, Buck had
one in his hands, Ginger kept one, and
Helen seized the remaining one
where do come I'M" chirped Jack.
Here" handed her the revolver,
In which there were five loaded cham
bers, and told her to hold on to it, as
she would doubtless need it. We all
took position behind our breastworks
ready to repel an assault. Mt the same
time seeing to the condition Of our
pieces. They were cavalry carbines,
all loaded and capped ready for use,
"Where are your horses:' l asked.
"Pickcted down there" Helen re-
piled, pointing westward, "in thicket
not far from the road"
"Have you anything to cat?"
She glanced at Il parcel on the
ground. II got that in Il cabin. There's
some corn pone and pork"
BARELY enough for one meal. Any
watcr:'
There's some water trickling be-
tween the rocks back there"
THAT ponc and pork means a chance,
but it's a slim one.'
Helen set her lips. Jack turned pale,
Ginger showed no emotion whatever,
while Buck remarked that he'd be
"darned if he didn't PUNK one Of EN-,
anyway" As for myself. l was aghast
at the terrible fate that threatened
those who had SO nobly and SO bravely
rsked all in my behalf.
What brought you here?" I asked,
impatiently, of Helen,
when you were taken from ouI
house l resolved to follow. Buck came
In just as | started. and insisted on
Joining me. We traced you to Colonel
Rutland's plantation
Il see. 1t was you heard coming
in after | went up stairs
"Ginger took the horses to the stable
and was returning to the house when
he saw two men climb tree near your
and enter your room. he
from distance and saw
them bring you out, but he could not
tell whether they were taking you
nway by force or assisting you to es-
cape. Coming into the house, he told
us what had happened.
Jack started to awaken Captain
Beaumont. but stopped her, If you
had been assisted to escape, this would
be fatal. Besides, from what Jack had /
told me of the captain. | judged he
would have his nights rest before ,
starting in pursuit. told Jack ] would .
'olow you myself and she was wild ,
% come with me. Ginger had seen you !
cave the plantation and knew the d.
'ection you had taken. We sent him
md Buck ahead, and they soon came
lear enough to you to hear your horses
loof beats. then waited for us to come
Up. Soon after we lost track of you,
nut. hearing something come crashing
Town the mountain
"A stone"
I'VE followed the direction of the
ound. In the early morning Buck and
finger came upon you unexpectedly.
rs soon as you had gone they rejoined
IS. we Swallowed you and yesterday
fternoon laid plan for your escape
"A wild, impracticable scheme. One
circumstance has led to another, each
lvolving you more deeply. My God.
shat load of obligation, We can't
tay here. Wen starve. Buck. couldn't
GU slip out in the darkness and find I
elp?"
mo, stree: I'm not goin out o hyar.
m goin t stay an fight with the rest
But you may save all our lives"
"Why don't you so, Mr.. Brandy. {
toneI"
81? must stay with your sister and
1usin. Besides, I'm big and couldn't |
ct through as easily rs YOU" !
We'll, l amt a-goin to sneak away l
| am little" I
"Bucky," said Jack, "yo' needn't go.
II 90 myself"
"Yo' don do muffin like dat, Missy
ack," cried Ginger. Dem grillers r
loot yo'. Wha' mars say eff go back C
a tell 'em de apple oh he eye go down '
long grillers TO to git shot? gwinc, e
ars'," he added to me. v
But by this time there was more call f
e among the men below, a streak Of t
yht appeared in the east, and | did II
IT dare let any one attempt TO evade s
e enemy. Besides, | could now see Z
: the lay Of the land that it would be IL
lpossible. o
must have given the guer- Il
las an inkling of our whereabouts, is
r as soon as it was light we could G
e them standing, looking up at our I
sition. told every one to lie low.
ping that some of the outlaws would
NIB up to investigate and we might
tx them off. For more than an hour Z
: remained concealed. only speaking NJ
whispers; then we saw the knot of W
an below divide, three going to the II
est, three to the east, while three be- 81
hi