The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-11-13


town, where these villains will not
dare follow us. All stay here while i
reconnoiter."
L lad not dismounted, and spurred
my horse a few hundred yards west
ward, where l paused on the verge of
the plateau. The sun was rising at my
back and was pouring n flood of light
on the lowlands n thousand feet below.
1 swept my eye over the rolling fields
and woodland dotted with towns, VII.
lagos, hamlets and many n fair planta-
ton, with It's manor house surrounded
by the huts of the field hands. Far In
the distance was n snakelike line in
the road, moving forward, 1t seemed,
as n reptile crawls-the cavalry that
we had so nearly caught the day be-
fore, now on their way back to join
the main force. / longed for a speak
Ing trumpet sonorous enough to reach
them, but there was no hope for us
now in them, and brushed away dis
appointment and made n survey Of the
ground directly before me-nothing but
steep incline, so thickly wooded that
the character of the ground was COM
pletely hidden. On either hand was a
mountain spur, between which ran n
creek. l hesitated between taking one
Of these spurs n following the bed
OF the creek. On the spurs we might
be seen; by the creek we would be con-
cealed under the trees. l decided in
favor of the latter. Returning to camp,
l Informed the party Of my decision.
"Will you join us, Captain Beau
month" 1 asked.
days." replied the captain, looking at
Jack. Now I've found yo', I'm not
likely to part with yo'! Together we
can whip the guerrlllas."
mot n dozen Of them. Besides, we've
had enough of that"
what are you going to do with the
horses?" asked Helen.
Mount the ladies'" suggested the
captain.
THANK yo'," observed Jack, "but L
don't care to ride on a horse with his
nose pointing to China and his tail at
the stars"
mo n could ride a horse over such
a route" said 1. "Irl take care of the
stock"
tethered them in the little pocket
we were leaving, knowing that they
were less likely to betray our where
abouts to u enemies there than If /
turned them loose.
They'll starve," Jack demonstrated.
~ can't help It,"
"They shall not!"
Come, we nave no time to lose"
But Jack set about collecting what
little grass was to be had and piling 1t
before them. The captain, seeing her
determination, was soon on his knees
gathering grass and throwing 1t in her
apron.
81 hope the delay will not cost us our
lives" I grumbled. "Now, Ginger, 1
want you to go of to the right just as
far as you can and still keep me In
sight. Buck, you go to the left and do
the same. but keep close, for it won't
do for us to all to each other"
Jack can make all sorts O. noises
cats, an owls an birds-so yo' can't tell
EN-" Buck volunteered.
Good! We may have occasion to
use her. You girls keep behind about
the same distance as our bankers.
When we get to the creek, Ginger ID to
work Down 1T on the right bank, Buck
on the left, while 1 keep as neap the
creek as possible. Captain BeauEaont,
Will you act as rear guard?"
with pleasure, SIR"
Hell go to Sleep" remarked Back.
"and be left behind"
"Not with you in 'front.'" said tho cap
tain, looking at her reproachfully.
{ L gave the order to move. Makiag as
little noise as possible, keeping each
other In sight, except occasionally.
when the trees and underbrush were
too thick, we proceeded to the brow of
the plateau. Descending, we soon
struck the creek and, under cover OF
the trees, proceeded downward IN open
order, walking rapidly, keeping n sharp
lookout ahead and ON the TANKS. We
a not gone far before an owl hooted
behind me, and SO natural was the cry
that, had mot been expectingit, I should
never have suspected it to have come
from the throat of Jaqueline. Turn
Ing, l saw both girls pointing upward.
On the very edge of the 6eclivity and
not far from where we had begun our
descent n man was looking down from
the plateau. We were so protected
that he could not see us, for, besides
being among the trees, we were I'm
comparative shadow, while the man
above stood out boldly in the light. He
did mot look like a guerrilla, but we
hurried on.
Discovering a great advantage I'm
Jack's signals, 1 called In the fankers
and the rearguard and arranged with
them that Jack was 10 travel with me
as ~trumpeter. The boot of an owl
would mean hide" n woodpecIer's
rapping rally ON the CENTER" the notes
of a thrush take a back track" q hens
cackling push forward in haste"
These signals being perfectly under-
stood, we opened again and advanced
like a central sun and satellites.
We had made the principal part of
he descent when, coming to q convcn.
lent spot, l ordered a halt for rest, feel.
Ing II confidence that I had not felt
since my abductlon-a confidence 1
should not have yielded TO, for we were
yet far from SAFETY. The place of orr
halt was a delightful angle In the
stream we were following. Jack stroll