The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-24
CHAPTER XIV.
A BONFIRE DEFENCE.

,Afornlng. noon. afternoon. passed with
no change I'm the situation. All my COM
mand slept during the day. and even I
got two or three hours OF tired natures
sweet restorer, though would not close
my eyes till Helen had promised not 20
take hers Off the guerrillas till i awoke.
During the afternoon all began 20 suffer
from hunger. but j would not allow the
ecanty bit OF food remaining 10 be eaten.
Buck got over the noon meal bravely.
but when supper time came he clamored
for something 10 eat.
Nov, see hyar, Mr.. Brandystone." he
argued. you just give me my shar'. an
] won't want any mo- when the rest Of
yo' have yo's'
You must wait, Buck We shall have to
fast long enough anyway. The longer be-
tween meals the longer we can hold out"
"All right" he said bravely Il can
hold out as long as any OF yo.
AS evening came on n horrible thought
loomed up suddenly. III the night should
be dark. there was nothing TO prevent
the guerrillas stealing up on us unawares
and capturing aur stronghold
II must flnd a way out or this"
muttered and began an examination Of
the face OF the rock in our rear The
cleft where water dripped slanted up
ward. narrow opening little wider
than mans body. l crawled into the
crevice and by using hands and feet
mounted to the summit. 1 stood enchant-
ed by the splendid view. Northward and
eastward the Cumberland mountains
reared their heads. a succession OF wood
ed crests: westward the fair plain OF
middle Tennessee; southwark Confeder-
ate territory cut on from US by war and
setting afiame the imagination as TO
what was taking place I'm the newborn
a.. .I-sl l.. t1AA
the black earth from the scarlet sky left
by the setting sun.
Scramblng over the uneven ground.
climbing rocks, fighting my way through
thickets. i explored every promise OF out
let There was not n possible descent.
returned TO the mouth OF the crevice. In
tending TO rejoin my companions.
heard some one clambering up and. look
ing down. saw Helen Stanforth. Giving
her my hand, / helped her to level
ground.
You and l." ] said. should not be
absent from the front at the same time"
Tell me-" she said, fixing her eyes
on me intently, what j want to know.
i have led Jaqueiine. Buck and Ginger
into this trap In an attempt TO save you.
The least j can expect is your confidence.
Who are your"
Our lives depended on absolute devo-
ton TO each other. II should tell her
commission in the Yankee army. that
had sent information north TO enable a
Union general TO capture the region
about her home, / should sap our main
element OF strength. On the other hand,
/ was accepting all this devotion under
false pretenses. The thought was mad
dening Had she not been looking at me
with her big honest eyes believe 1
should have shed tears OF anguish.
Miss Sanforth-Heien," l said, who
and what i am can be of no moment
now with death staring us In the face.
You and j have a mutual purpose-to
save those who have been led into this
peril There Is no time for explanations.
/ beg Of you TO Danish for the time this
secret and think only OF the work before
us"
She turned her eyes out to the far dis
tant horizon, but did not see IL. intent
on her own thoughts. Then, looking
again at me, she said, with burst OF
impulse:
''To know that you are unworthy would
Kill me-"
| bowed my head to escape her gaze.
When / looked again. she had turned
aud was entering the crevice.
Having failed 20 find an outlet In our
rear we had no choice but to face our
enemies. / cast my eyes over the oniy
route open TO night surprise. On our
right. not far below was the bare face
OF rock 20 feet high. around which was
no path. To the left another rock pro-
1ected in such fashion that while an
enemy climbed over II his silhouette
would appear against the sky. Noticing
an abundance OF frewood scattered
about, l resolved TO build a bonfire. with
q view to lighting up our enemies should
they attempt to steal upon US in the
night AS soon as 1t was dark enough l