Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-28

saying that the scar that remained was
more coveted by all of us as an honor.
able decoration than IL it had been a
major generals shoulder straps. TO be
sure that the letter would reach its
destination as soon as possible I rode
with it to the general postoflice mt post
headquarters in the fort, mile away.
had scarcely reached the fort when
n sound somewhat resembling the rum.
BILE of distant railway train caused
me to look over my shoulder, and |
saw half mile behind me the entire
regiment approaching at the gallop.
IL see here a divided duty" quoted
to myself from "Othello," but did not
hesitate. Whatever the danger to the
post and the nation, both had hundreds
Of champions In the regiment; Brain.
ard had but one SO / rode into the fort
and did not leave until had found tho
postmaster and placed my letter in his
hands.
When emerged. the regiment had
passed the fort and was disappearing
In the village. To return to camp for
my saber, carbine and pistol would
leave me 10 or IS minutes behind my
comrades. and "a stern chase is long
one" had no weapon with me but
the sheathknife always carried in
my boot, for it was tool OF all work
Ratchet, carving knife, root digger and
half dozen other things. 1t would at
least serve for self defense in a hand
to hand fight. and fights Of this charac-
ter were almost unknown to us. thanks
to the enemy's objection to getting
within close reach of us. At the worst
| would have the honor and pleasure of
being present for duty" should the af-
fair prove serious.
My horse was as good as the best,
so I soon passed through the village
and galloped along the Richmond road
for the hoof prints in the dust showed
that the regiment had taken that route.
Cnarmed though ! was, my sense OF
eXhilaratiOn was intense. Over this
same road had passed in other days the
patriot soldiers of two wars, even great
Washington himself. my regiment
was no longer at an out Of the way
outpost that had been held year only
to be told that It was not worth hold.
ing. We were now really in the enc
my's country and with a possibility OF
seeing service of sufficient Importance
to be- mentioned in the newspapers.
In fact, my head got so far into the
clouds that neglected to keep my eyes
on the road. which is the worst blum
der of which q trooper can be guilty
When | did chance to glance down
ward, II was to discern that only 4
| few horsemen had preceded me. 1t did
not take me long to learn that the few
did not belong to the enemy, for on tn,
moist ground beside small stream
that crossed the road | saw the print,
of horseshoes and their nail heads
The enemy's troop horses were unshod
as a rule. rode some minutes Longer
and was suddenly stopped by a famll
lar voice shouting:
"Come in here we little dhvil"
Twas the voice Of Sergeant Mick Nc
Twyny, who had been detached. will
his platoon. to watch" a portion of {
crossroad far to the right of the ole
postroad. His platoon of 10 men con
sisted principally on this occasion o
his own gang. birds of feathe
flock together" But Brainard was ais,
in it.
Somebody lend me a revolver mere
ly as n matter OF FORM" said l, 'il
case anything may happen was il
the fort when the regiment came out
| hadn't time to go back to camp 70
my things, so | just came along OF
general principles"
That's the thingw said SerGcan
Mick, with a riCerish grin that wa
meant for an approving smile.
The platoon seemed to me to be Il
great luck It was hot day; the me
were dismounted and resting at east
their sabers strapped to the saddles, i
the shade on the edge Of forest /
front Of which was An abandoned, bar
plantation at least half mile square
\ gentle breeze from the northweS
blew refrcshnGly. The line betwee
the open ground and the forest wa
marked by a rail fence; how this had eS
. capped the camphres Of the hundreds O
thousands of northern and souther
soldiers who had tramped the Penins,
la was a mystery to me. except that
seemed a great way from the Ricl
mond road. which had been the bon
Of contention.
Mick leaned upon this fence an
appeared to undergo a TRANSPORTATION
for he looked intelligent and seemed t
have something on his mind beside
LIQUOR tobacco and desire TO snarl q
some one. As already intimated. IN
head had been in the clouds for a
hour, so pulled myself up sharp b
reminding myself that Mick, though
sergeant and therefore my superior of
Ger, was merely a Summerton tough,
with all that the name implied. 81
sides, | still was without "Shootln
irons" | looked about me at the me
lying at ease beside the fence, the
horses being tied TO trees near then
l started 10 ask Brainard for carbir
or revolver, it mattered not which
when Mick shouted:
"Coppyral Frost. take me carbine a.
lift into Yer pockets the cartridges fro
me box an take some av me percussio
caps. OF think Oi'll he afther dol,
most av me foiGhtin' wild me eye a
wits" Then he looked about the me
;. on the ground approached a small ma
I who owned big horse. kicked hi