Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-19

| There seemed enough risk In all this
to insure my remaining awake. stuff
cd the dispatches inside my shirt. put
fresh percussion caps on my rerolV.
ers and started. Nothing unusual oc.
Cured for quarter of an hour or
more. but as descended gentle slope
| was sure | heard the clank Of sabers
in front of me. My horse. too. gave
the usual equine indications Of being
suddenly interested In something ahead.
| halted an instant. and the noise ceas'
ed. but when again rode forward the
clanking was resumed so noisily that
| became thoroughly frightened. refined
i my horse under partial cover at the
side Of the road. turned pale-or felt
that ! did-and galloped back to camp.
The captain frowned when reported
my failure. So did the colonel. who.
with the captain. had been awaiting
the result of my effort.
I'll try still another man, If you
think best" said the captain.
"'rry me. captain" said Brainard,
who was always among the first to
greet me when l returned to camp.
Your asked the captain, looking
quizzically at the little fellow.
"Yes. sir" said Brainard. "You see,
I'm so small that it would be hard for
marksman to hit me. even by day
light"
This remark made both officers smile,
and was told to give my dispatches to
| .Brainard. The little chap was on Ills
horse in an instant and. taking straps
| from his saddlebow. bound his legs to
the tops of the stirrup straps.
What is that for?" asked the cap.
tain.
$50" said Brainard. that If I'm shot
l can't fall out Of the saddle. The
horse will be sure to hurry back to
camp. and the enemy won't get the dis.
patches. as they might If were to
fall"
The captain nodded to the colonel.
who raised his eyebrows, and Brain
ard hurried out the road at an easy
gallop. walked q little way In the
I'same direction and strained my ears
| for shots. but heard none. | did not
sleep much that night. Should Brain
ard he killed would always feel that
! had sacrificed his life to save my
own: should he succeed. why. confound
him. | would again have to feel as un-
comfortable us did when he did the
work and got the glory Of our rescue
| when we We're made prisoners. l did
not feel any easier ut learning that
about uu hour before | had started q
man Oh Il harnessed horse had come
| gallopiny wildly out Of that same road
ami hurried to the rear. Until tattoo
| paced the ground OH which our troop
was ramppd. After. tattoo | resumed
my tramp The guards were changed
! ut 10 o'clock. midnight. 2 In the morn
ing. and was still awake. for Brain
ard had not returned. The captain,
who felt responsible for the safe deliv-
| cry of the dispatches. awoke. Joined
me and said he hoped my chum had got
through all right: then lie also began to
| pace TO and fro. which increased my
anxiety. Toward dawn ! fell asleep
| through sheer exhaustion. Just after
| sunrise | was aroused by being shak-
on. When opened my eyes. over me
bent Rriuard. very pale Of face. but
wonderfully bright Of eye.
"rell me about it," demanded.
"Oh." said Brainard. IL never was so
frightened in my life. After Looping
along a few minutes it occurred to Inc
that had better know my way before
trying it. so dismounted and hid my
horse in the woods beside the road,
leaving my saber there also. Then |
sneakrd down the road. with my re-
volvrr in my hand and my heart in my
mouth. to find out where and what that
cavalry was 1t might have been some
of our own men. you know. Pretty
soon | heard the clanking you spoke
Of Didn't il sound dreadful in the
dark. though! | crouched and sneaked
from one tree TO another. and the noise
grew louder but not Il human voice
! could | hear. nor was there any ouor
OF tobacco in the air. These two facts
bothered me greatly. for when soldiers
who are awake cease talking and snlok-
ing there's something serious OH hand.
"Iretty soon heard splash. Aha"
thought |. Somebody is watering his
horc in brook Or pond crept still
closer The ground became lower. rs
il there might be Il brock there. got
nearer still until made out 4 bridge
ut my left. but not Il trooper could |
see. began to Shiver and recall ghost
stories. don't believe in ghosts. you
know. but the dim light and mysterious
noises made me think Of them in spite
of mySell. Finally | got right on the
bank Of the brook and looked over.
Then was more surprised than scared.
for could make out three horses with.
out riders and something that looked
like tent. but all in the water. |
made bold to challenge. but there was
no reply. Then became SO excited
that | thought might as we'll he shot
as die through bursting Il blood vessel.
so | got some matches out of my jack
ct, struck light and made little fire
of dry leaves and twigS. and what do
YOU suppose | saw? An ammunition
wagon lying OH its side and three OF its
four horses partly hitched. Apparently
it had fallen from the bridge, which
was very narrow and had no rail. 1t
| ,roc tln rottlu or the chains of the har-