The National tribune., 1901-04-04

But how about these?" 81 hurriedly
inquired, as he happened to glance back
ward, and see about battalion OF cavalry
coming over high hill a couple of miles
in the rear. -lf -5' se,H
Il guess we'd better be going" remark
ed Shorty: Lets strike for that big road
Louisville. Well get there before they
see US, and probably find some by-path
off,"
But as they reached the road and looked
to the left they saw another battalion
rising over the hill beyond, with their
faces set toward the northeast.
That's probably the rear of the col
umn," 81 hastily assumed. Wen turn
to the right and go southwest
He did so, but as he assembled the next
hil, he was dismayed to see approaching
brigade of cavalry.
Great Scott, Shorty" he exclaimed,
drawing back to be out Of sight, and giane-
ing apprehensiyely toward the road lead
ing in from the west. We've got in be-
tween the advance and the main column,
with that other crowd on our flank"
Had we better leave the horses, and
break for the woodsp suggested Bill
Grimshaw, who had the strongest reasons
for not falling into the rebels hands. He
to take any risk but that of being cap
tured.
Say, Sargint," suggested Uncle Eph-
rain, who was studying the roadside
brush. somebody's done gone froo right
dar."
81 looked. but could see no entrance inte
the impenetrabIe hedge of briers and
brush. But he had confidence in Uncle
Ephriam's bush-know wiedge. Go ahead,
Uncle" he said, briefly.
Uncle Ephraim made his way through
the brush with much less difficulty than
expected, and the other horses followed.
Before the head of either column ap-
peared they were all behind the wall of
bushes, which closed up again and showed
no sign of their passage to eyes less sharp
ly trained than Uncle Ephraim's.
Somebody's done hid hyah afore.
Oars a hidin' place round hyah, some
whar," Uncle Ephraim continued, as they
dismounted and led their horses along
through the thick-growing cedars along a
shelf above the creek. '.Bofe niggers an
white men We bin hidin' hyah."
How do you know, Uncle?" inquired
ST.
81 done seed some nigger-wool on a
piece OBJ paper back dar. De hidin' place
bin used n good while ago, an den quite
lately" remarked Uncle Ephraim, and 81,
following his gaze, saw whitfield stick
that had rotted, and a bit of rag, that
had not yet become weather beaten.
"Whar in de world dat hidin' place."
continued Uncle Ephraim, looking around
anxiously, for they could hear the brig
ade on the road halting, manifestly with
the intention of waiting for some other
portion Of the command to come up.
"Whar in de Kingdom he? On top de hill?
No; dat bare, an kin be seed f'om de
udder hills. Whar he? O dar he"
His eyes had at last caught sight of
enough broken branches and disturbed
foliage to indicate direction, and he fol-
lowed it, leading his horse.
1t led him down toward the creek, and
he carefully avoided shaking the bushes
and attracting the attention of the men
on the road. His raised finger made 81
and the rest equally circumspect. Turning
around thick clump of laurel, he came
suddenly under high cliff, beneath which
all the horses could stand, and drew his
horse there followed by the Others.
On the opposite side Of the creek jagged,
precipitous rocks rose quite high, and on
the scanty soil on and among them grew
cedars and briers.
This is good enough" said Si, looking
at the cliff. II don't think that anybody
is liable to climb up on those rocks over
there to look in and discover US. But it
seems to me smell fire, and there's
been some cooking near here. Hello,
what's this?"
He had kicked against something, which
he picked up and examined. Il was a
bootleg, fitted with q wooden bottom to
make a water-bueket.
There a prisoner Of war around here"
he said. where can he beT'
The noise of the talking, and the sound
of comrades on the road increased. In
quisitive little Pete climbed back to whera
he could get peep at the road, and hear
something of what was being said.
Appears TO be q row over the men de-
serting," he reported to 81. Generals