Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-31
CHAPTER XIII.
BELEAGUEREI

nable position, protected by
breastworks and able to pour shot
down steep hill at an enemy. Two
mon, two girls and boy had defeated
the guerrillas and sent them back to
their camp. did not fear another at
tack. What dreaded was starvation.
Indeed, could see plainly that our ene-
mics were preparing to carry out the
starvation plan. Several of them went
Fn different directions, doubtless for
food. One Of them passed quite within
range.
"Tm goin to, PUNK that one,'E said
Buck.
caught his arm, and gave him q re-
proof which for while at least caused
him to remember that I was in com.
1nand.
81 wish they'd attack us again. said
The irrepressible boy. 81 could "a hit
that doggone 'butternut' if somep'n
hadn't joggled my ARM
There had been nothing to joggle the
boys arm. but thought it best to let
him keep up his pride-it would make
him more serYiceable-so I said moth
ing.
II aimed right at the middle of his
breast" continued Buck, ''but just then
he jumped over a stone, an missed
him.
81 thought some one joggled your
Rrm?'
"Some one did. Ginger, yo' consarn-
ed old niger, what d. yo' go joggle me
10 just as was goin to PUNK hm?.
Isst1 didn't joggle yo', Mars Ruck.p
SHWas it you. Heinz"
t'No."
! Somebody did, or I'd "a hit him,
ghor'
If ever party needed breakfast, it
was ours. Helen unrolled the little
parcel Of provisions. 1 directed her to
serve a 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 it was
important for all that should keep I'D
my strength and finally prevailed on
me to eat my share. Jaqueline 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 It's 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
Aler to do SO. She wound around it a
fresh bandage torn from my shirt
sleeve and was pinning it 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 a knife. 1t
was plain that she was making this
effort, mourning this danger, believing
me to be Confederate.
81 can't understand all these troubles
Ahat surround you," she went on.
teWhy not explain?"
f'You know I'm charged with being
in league with the Yankees"
Eyes, but your accusers are robbers
and murderers. If I thought that
She broke off with frown and turned
away.
"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
beds of boughs covered with blankets.
! took advantage of their inacton to
learn how Buck had succeeded in de-
Hyering his message to the scout he
was to meet at Huntsville. AS / could
not question him before the others
without giving up my secret, I drew
him into the cleft behind us.
Buck, did you find the man 1 sent
you to meet at Huntsville?"
Reckon did"
"Tell me about it,"
"All right. AS soon as 1 got into
town went right to the squar an stop
ped in front O. the hotel. ] hitched my
pony to a post an went inside. A man
in the Office said, Sonny, what d yo
want? an | said, I'm goin up Oh the
gallery an he said, What for an
said. 'Fo' to see the town. Then |
went up stairs an waited till heard
the clock strikin an counted thi'teen."
Not Is, Buck. Clocks don't strike
49,"
"Well. don't yo' see, that clock at
Huntsville is different kind 1t
struck either thiteen or fo'tecn, !
couldn't tell which"
Never mind the clock. You're in
venting all this. Go on"
well, just as the clock struck man
be came out OH to the gallery. He had
the doggonest eyes | ever saw-just
like the VOLTS in Red Riding Hood
At first he didn't take any notice o.
ME. lockin s if he was bothered cause
was thar IN he expected somebody