The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-10-24
CHAPTDR XIII.
BELEAGUERED.

down q steep hill ut an enemy. Two
men, two girls and n boy had defeated
the guerrillas and sent them back to
their camp. l did not fear another at
tack. What l dreaded was starvation.
Indeed, could see plainly that our ene-
miles were preparing to carry out the
starvation plan. Several of them went
IN different directions, doubtless for
food. One of them passed quite within
range.
I'm goin to plunk that one" said
Buck
caught his arm, and gave him re-
PROOF which for n while at least caused
MIN to remember that was In COM
mand.
Il wish they'd attack us again." said
the lrrepressible boy. II could "a hit
that doggone 'buttcrnut' if somep'n
hadn't joggled my arm"
There had been nothing to joggle the
boys arm. but 1 thought 1t best to let
him keep up his prlde-it would make
him more serviceable-so 1 said moth
ing.
II aimed right at the middle of his
breast," continued Buck, "but just then
ne Jumped over stone an 1 missed
him."
II thought some one joggled your
armT
"Some one did. Ginger, yo' consarn-
ed old nigger, what a. yo' go joggle me
TO Just as was goin to plunk him ??
II didn't joggle yo', Mars Buck"
WAS 1t you, Helm"
mo"
Somebody did, or I'd a. hit him,
sho!
II ever party needed breakfast 1t
was ours. Helen unroled the little
parcel Of provisions. | directed her to
serve half ration, or, rather, half OF
what there was and save the rest She
did so, handing me my portion, which
declined, but she argued that 1t was
important for all that should keep up
my strength and finally prevailed on
me TO eat my share. JaQuellne and
BUCK ate theirs ravcnously. Each Of us
went to where the water was drip
ping from the cleft and caught tho
drops IN our mouths. Buck, when he
had finished his breakfast, like Oliver
twist, asked for more. 1t made my
heart ache to refuse him, but there was
no alternative.
one danger was dwarfcd by the
greater perils that surrounded us, vet 1t
was no less important. My wound was
liable to put me hors de combat at any
moment. Fortunately until my dash
from the guerrilla camp had not been
subject to any physical strain, and by
that time it had healed sufficiently TO
prevent Its opening. At any rate, 1t
Helen asked after lull in the lighting
was about this wound She insisted
on dressing 1T for me, and permitted
her TO 90 so. She wound around it n
fresh bandage torn from my Shirt
sleeve and was pinnlng 1t when, look
Ing up at me, she sald
You're not the first one Of our men
I've assisted with bandages."
Her remark cut ME like a knife. It
was plain that she was making this
effort incurring this danger, believing
me to be a Confederate
II can't understand all these troubles
that surround you," she went on.
"Why not explain?"
You know Pm charged with being
In league with the Yankees"
'4es, but your accusers are robbers
and murderers. If I thought that
She broke off with frown and turned
away.
1.-The guerrillas built fire and, after
cooking and eating breakfast, loitered
ABOUT, some chatting, some playing
cards, while others devoted themselves
TO their wounded companions, making
them as comfortable as possible on
Deds OF boughs covered with blankets.
TOOK advantage Of their inactton to
learn how Buck had succeeded kn de-
hVerlng his message to the scoat he
was to meet at Huntsville. AS I could
not question him before the others
without giving up my secret, 4 drew
him into the cleft behind us.
BUCK, did you find the man q sent
you to meet at HuntsvilleT'
Reckon l did"
'Tell me about It,"
"All right. AS soon as I ge8 into
town went right to the suuar an stop
ped in front O. the hotel. | htche1 nv
ponv . post an went inside. A man
IN lne office said, Sonny, what e yo'
WantT an 1 said, I'm goin up on the
gallery an he said, What fo'p an
said. Fo' to see the town. Then |
"eht up stairs an waited till I beard
the clock strikin an counted thrtesn."
mot 13, Buck. Clocks don't Gariks
49,"
"Well. don't yo' see, that cloc& at
Huntsville Is different kind. It
struck either thrteen or fo'teea, l
couldn't tell which,"
"Never mind the clock. You'Ea III
venting all this. Go on"
well. just as the clock struck man
ne came out on to the gallery. He had
81, tue aoggonest eyes l ever saw-just
'.he the wolf's In Red Riding Hood
az nrst ne didn't take any notice O.
Ie = 'ookih q II he was bothered cause
l was thar an he expected somohodu
Ihen he watched me with those shan
eyes O his'n, an at last he said kind -,
grufr. TITS fine day, boy an I ao,d
Gald l-What woa II T mn, +o ...o,