Evening star., 1901-02-09

extreme right? The man. saw the look In
the oncers eyes, butfNas Silent until Nor
"You were not in nnifofm the morning
you arrested Theodore Lsne?'' said he.
Nor were you." wa$ the answer, with
quiet smile. "our duties sare many-sided.
fall" 70 sff
All the long afternoon,v as the column
pushed its way slowly asoatheastward. Holt
as sunset came on, hei noted that the
courier had ridden opt with one Of STAN
ley's aids. and was close TO the young OFF,
Ger in command of arplatpon, depioyed as
Half mile back they had crossed broad
country road that seemed in better repair
than was usual, and the general, with a
grin of satisfaction, ordered squadron
sent out northeastward along that road to
hold the flank "But, mind you," said he
to the captain commanding. "be ready to
fall back at dusk. That" he continued,
turning to Norman and pointing south
west s'is the road we take the minute it's
dark, but I've got to swing a covering
force behind It."
That covering force must have taken
time and meanwhile the advance along the
McMinnville road southeast was checked.
It was cavalry against cavalry only, but
Johnny Reb was on his native heath, and
the farther his patrols and skirmishers
were pushed back toward the main body.
the thicker they got. Shove out two Of
YOUR platoons. O'Connor," said the general.
sharply, after listening awhile to the
crackle They're holding fast just here
where don't want them to. It's time to
turn the column toward Tullahoma. but
they mustn't see Hold them off there for
half an hour; then they can't seer
Promptly the captain OF the escort threw
forward the first troop, he himself riding
out with the men. 1t was spirited scene.
and Norman sat gazing in fascination. In
front of them were rugged slopes. up which
at distance wound the McM1nnville road.
Stumps stones and snake fences adorned
the landscape close at hand, but there was
a fringe of forest 800 yards away, and be-
yond that bold, tumbling. wooded heights.
all aglow with the glare OF the setting sun,
all alive apparently with southern skir-
mishers. The instant he reached the open
O'Connor deployed forward at a trot, his
Kentucky horsemen scattering fence rails
and squirming among the stumps as
jauntily as they would ride to the races.
Out at the far front the woods were ringing
with the rebel yells, which meant that
Johnny was winning. He never yelled when
he wasn't-if he knew 1t. The trouble with
our southern brother too often was that he
wouldn't know when he was whipped. The
woods rang with louder clamor when OCon-
nor's long line got fairly In. and there was
a glorious burst OF musketry when they
reached the retiring line and let loose on
their pursuers. Norman. carried away by
the thrill of the sound. turned to beg leave
to ride out to the front, and Stanley and
the staff were gone. There stood the re-
mile back, the main column was being
switched off Tullahoma way. Then up
came an aid at gallop.
IT'S all right" he cried. ''The roads COW
cred. OConnor's people are to fall back
here" And Norman galloped on with him.
out to the front.
In the thick Of the woods and the joy Of
aa the fight thax found anr thf from tS
line. But hold 'em off. I'll show you where
to stand!' shouted the aid, and OConnor,
nodding, spurred forward. Aloft the bullets
sang and bit through the trees, but the fire
was moderate, the aim too high Johnny
was shooting downhill! The trumpets began
a lively peal, and presently the rapid fire
subsided. and to the SQUAD of slow, scat
tered shots the mounted skirmishers reined
about. OConnor's fellows first to disen-
tangle themselves from the original line
and came trOtting back through the trees
The yells that had daeddaway before the
fierce fire of the reinforced line speedily be-
gan again as O'ConnorS,s troop disappeared,
leaving only thin and dispersed array to
hold the woods. The aids Still remained as
though personally to guide the commander
to the new % station at the rear. and Norman
a point to their right, where there was a
little clearing half a dozen troopers came
sputtering out in some, disorder, as though
hard pressed at the front Instantly the
aid and Normap from one side and a cav
airy lieutenant from,etheT other dashed at
them. drove them back into line. and as
they foundered about, in. the soft, squashy
soil OF the open field, ashamed Of their panic
troopers were astonished to see one of their
own number, apparently, dismounted at the
edge OF the timber, straining at his saddle
g1rth, while his excited horse pranced about
and .circled round him It was the courier
and as though to have free use Of his
hands he had flung his carbine. The next
instant fh?rus Of exultant yells burst
from the heart Of the timber. and a crash
ing volley sent the bullets whistline about
the ears or the onlookers. Down went two
horses. Kicking and plunging in the mud,
bearing their riders with them. Away
darted third. In panic uncomfortable, but
to Norman's horror, as the courier sprang
into saddle and came squirting away for
safety. something. a bullet possibly, had
clipped the strap of that dispatch bag, and,
siding from the fleeing riders shoulder, 1t
fell, with its precious, priceless contents. to
the ground. w
Good God! Those are ordergorders for
Thomas" shouted Norman. Come on!
to see who might follow; never needing
SHOUTS or shots or the rush Of gray-jacket-
ed troopers through the woods ahead.
straight for the abandoned haversack he
spurred. noting only as he shot past the
fleeing courier that he was clutching at the
pommel and swaying In saddle Straight
as the flight Of arrow he darted on. linked
his LETT hand IN lock of the flowing name,
anu never SldCkeHlnS speed, hurled himself
from the saddle. his left leg deftly CURLING
about the cantle, swooped low as the GAL
liant horse bore him swiftly on, clutched
the strap of the priceless bag in his eaunt-
leted hand and with a shout Of triumph
regained his seat, waving the prize on high.
AND then, then as in sweeping circle ne
strove to rein about to rejoin his comrades
whose shouts and shots were ringing over
the field, the woods close at hand seemed
to spit with sudden fire. the air buzzed with
stinging missiles, the crack Of carbines
smote upon his ear. Something stung his
left arm just below the shoulder, and numb.
limp and spouting blood, it fell nerveless by
his side His bounding steed gave two or
three frantic plunges, and then went head
long, blowing the soft soil with nose and
doubled knees. Norman felt himself hurled
forward, clinging still to hts prize, and even
then In his agony strove to hurl 1t to the
few troopers who had followed him. Too
late! swarm Of yelling lads in gray came
tearing into the field. Rough hands seized
the stricken officer and dragged him to his
feet. There sounded in his ear moment q
chorus of mingled cheers and yells, a furi-
Gus sputter of musketry. and then he real
ized that from the ambush Of the forest a
strong force Of southern horse had burst
upon the thin skirmish line and swept 1t
all away. Exultant Johnnies were already
exploring that precious bag in hopes Of
something to eat or drink. He and those
dispatches were the prize of the enemy.