The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-09-18
CHAPTER XIII.
nTIFAgvFRFp.

- TRANCE that men will never
- learn the terrible advantage OF
~ force posted ON an impreg-
nable position, protected by
brcastworks and able to pour shot
down steep hill at an enemy. Two
men. two girls nud boy had defeated
the gucrrillas aud sent them back to
their camp. | did not fear another Mt
tack What dreaded was starvation.
Indeed. | could src plainly that our enc
ml"a were preparing to cnrry out the
starvation plan. Several Of them went
In different directions. doubtless for
food. one Of them passed quite within
range.
"rm goln to plunk that one" said
Buck.
caught his arm. and gave him n re-
proof which for II while ut least caused
him to remember that | was In conf
mnnd.
the irrcprcssihlc boy. II could n hit
that doggonc 'buttrrnut Il somcp'n
hadn't Iogglcd my arm"
Thc"c had been nothing tu juggle the
boy .rm hut thought II best to let
him keep up his pridc-it would make
him more scrvlcCnhlc-so | said moth.
Ing.
Il aimed right at the middle of his
breast" continued Buck. "hut just then
he Jumped over stone, an missed
him"
II thought some one jogglcd your
arm?"
"Somc one did. Ginger. yo' consnrn
ed old nigger. what IL yo' 90 iogglc me
fo' just rs was goln TO plunk hlmT"
81 didn't jogglc yo', Mars Buc~."
"Was IT you. HEMP"
"No"
"Somchody did. or I'd "a hit him.
sho.'
If ever a party needed breakfast, 1t
was ours. Helen unrollcd the little
parcel of provisions. | directed her TO
serve n 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. Jaquelne and
Buck ate theirs ravenously. Each of us
went TO where the water was drip.
ping from the cleft and caught the
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 dwarfed by the
| greater perils that surrounded us, yet it
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, it
gave me no trouble. The first thing
Helen asked after lull in the fighting
was about this wound. She insisted
on dressing it for me, and | permitted
her to do so. She wound around II Il
fresh bandage torn from my shirt
sleeve and was pinning 1t when, look
Ing up at me, she said:
You're not the first one of our men
I've assisted with bandages.'
Her remark cut me like n knife. 1t
was plain that she was making this
effort, incurring this danger, believing
me to be a Confederate.
"Ican't understand all these troubles
that surround YOU" she went on.
"Why not explaln?"
"You know I'm charged with being
in league with the Yankees"
'Yes, but your accusers are robbers
and murderers. If l thought that
She broke Off with frown and turned
away.
"The guerrillas built n fire and. after
cooking and eating breakfast, lotered
about, some chatting. some playing
cards. while others devoted themselves
TO their wounded companions, making
them as comfortable as possible on
beds of boughs covered with blankets
/ took advantage OF their inaction tO
learn how Buck had succeeded In de.
livering his message to the scout he
was to meet at Huntsville. AS / could
not question him before the Others
without giving up my secret, | drew
him into the cleft behind us.
"Buck, did you find the man | sent
you to meet at Huntsville"
Reckon did"
"Tell me about It,"
"All right. AS soon as I got into
town | went right to the squar an stop
ped in front o the hotel. hitched my
pony TO post an went inside. A mar
In the Office said Sonny. what IL 70
want| an | said. I'm goin up on tn,
gallery an he said, What fo'?' an
said, 'Fo' to see the town Then
went up stairs an waited till | heard