West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-10-17

""Ah noNs Shoutd she De She halted
aud her eyes shone In the. darkness.
Why should she not bcg Why not prove
TO her people that she was. II tral.
tress. not one with intended mnliceY
She could shoot almost as well as Pc
ter; She was more active chan men OF
older age. For full five minutes she
remained at n halt. and then. swinging
her horse or the trail. she galloped TO
the right straight across country. fol.
lowing no path or trek. save the sure
guide OF her native knowledge OF the
land.
by dawn the veldt was alive with
strange noises and unwonted visitors
Trumpets were calling across its grass
es. The clatter OF steel scabbar,ls
against spurs and stirrup Irons rang
out In the quiet air. Drums were beat
ing The loud ana sharp commands
came swiftly from the mouths OF alert
sergeants. The English camp was
struck, and the first rays OF the sun
glanced from the buttons and bayonets
or the Invading army rs II formed col.
umn and marched into the heart OF the
coveted land. Swinging along with the
practlced. never faltcrlng step OF long
drilled soldiers. the army passed. with
here and there bronzcd horseman
dartlng from front 90 rear and rear to
front with orders. and flying above it
the proud banner that has been so In
frequently lowered.
So they passed, the gay group OF gen
cral and stan I'm front. chatting ana
laughing, until OF moment their talk
and laughter ceased, and swiftly the
chief cent his aids galloplng back along
the column with sharp orders to close
up. Down the trek. with grim faces,
came slowly In retreat the advance
guard, the scouts bearing with them
wounded men ana dead.
THE enemy Is I'm force" they said,
"but they won't stand. They are here,
there and everywhere over the veldt,
behind anthills and trees. behind rocks
on the kopies. always keeping at dis
tance and picking of our men every
shot at long range"
stronger guard was sent 10 the
front Scouts were sent out on either
flank, and the column again moved for.
ward. Now the laughing aud talking
ceased, and yeXation and wrath were
on the face OF tho chief and were re-
Elected on the faces OF his aids, for the
number Of soldiers being sent 10 the
surgeons In the rear was increasing, and
nothing could be seen OF the Beers but
distant horscmcn or rapidly moving
squads far OF or occasional sharpshoot-
cis many yards away or perpetual
puifs of smoke above powders and be-
hind the scrubby trees. Little drilled
in battle line ana hollow square. the
farmer soldiers were defending their
country In their own way. So the col.
umn passed on So the Beers retrent-
cd. harassing front and 1ank, and the
English general growled and grumblcd:
''rhe beggars are In force why
don't they stand up and fightY
And little boy. riding alongside his
father TO see the fun. so sure were the
English that II would he little more
than sham battle, looked up mt the
officer and asked with surprise:
Pa. isn't II time yet to begin to lick
themT
Meanwhile the patriots had moving
among them their pastors, and before
the fight commenced their day had be-
NN' WIN HiNsNi W ltt lspIu pl AlOhiS.
Theirs was not the trim and soldlcrly
appearance Of the invaders Old men
were there In the clothes I'm which they
followed the plow; boys were there I'm
the garb In which they hcrded the cat.
tic or guided the long OK trains. Their
yisagc was grlmly solemn man and
boy. As they retreated along the trek's
tanks, holding together In squads. un-
disciplined save 10y the force cngen-
derod by each mans love Of land, each
mans determination TO follow 10 the
end n common purpose. officers gal
loped among them, cheerIly and car
nestly encouraging them. Among these
officers was old Dom Jan. and for all
bis years bis eye was as bright and his
form as erect I'm the saddle as those of
his people 30 years younger than he.
He scanned as he rode the faces OF
those sbarpshooters whom he passed.
delivering a deadly fire upon the enc
my. and many be knew and many he
spoke to. But one he knew and yet
know not, for the face puzzled him un.
III. finding Peter. bis son. eager eyed
and busy. he pointed the stranger out
and asked II Peter knew who he was
md from what district he came: then.
cooking at his boys face he smiled and
said
Hes not unlike you. my son"
so Peter finding m opporiunitg na