The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-09
By JOHN HABBERTON,

| shiu tofdludru. IOu pco
I'm so small tht II would be hard for q
marksman TO hit me. even by daylight
| This remark made both officers smile
| and was told 10 give my dispatches &c
| Brainard. The little chap was on his
horse in an instant and. taking straps
| from his saddlebow, bound his legs 20 the
| tops OF the stirrup straps.
What Is that for?' asked the cap
| tain.
"So," said Brainarad. that IL I'm shot
can't fall out OF the saddle. The horse
| will be sure 10 hurry back TO camp. and
the enemy won't get the dispatches, as
| they might ifsI were 10 fall"
The captain nodded TO the colonel, who
| raised his eyebrows. and Brainard hurried
| out the road at an easy gaiiop. walked
a little way in the same direction and
strained my ears for shots, but heard
none. did not sleep much that night.
Should Brainard be killed l would always
feel that l had sacrificed his life TO save
my own; should he succeed, why, con-
found him, i would again have 10 feel as
uncomfortable as / did when he did the
work and got the glory of our rescue
when we were made prisoners, l did
not feel any easier at learning that about
an hour before had started a man on
harnessed horse had como galloping
wildly out OF that same road and hurried
10 the rear Until tattoo / paced the
ground on which our troop was camped
After tattoo / resumed my tramp. The
guards were changed at 10 o'clock, mid
night. in the morning. and was still
awake for Brainard had not returned.
The captain, who felt responsible for the
safe deliverey OF the dispatches. awoke,
Joined me and said he hoped my chum
had got through all right; then he also
began TO pace to and fro, which increased
my anxiety. Toward dawn l fell asleep
through sheer exhaustion. Just after sun
rise | was aroused by being shaken. When
l opened my eyes, over me bent Brain
ard, very pale of face, but wonderfully
bright OF eye.
Tell me about It," demanded.
oh" said Brainard. II never was so
frightened In my life After Looping along
a few minutes IL occurred 10 me that /
had better know my way before trying
IL, so ! dismounted and hid my horse In
the woods beside the road, leaving my
sber there also. Then sneeked down the
road with my revolver In my hand and
my heart In my mouth. to find out where
and what that cavalry was. II might
have been some Of our own men, you
know. Pretty soon heard the clanking
you spoke OF. Didn't II sound dreadful In
the dark. thought I crouched and
sneaked from one tree to another and
the noise grew louder. but not a human
OF tobacco I'm the air These two facts
bothered me- greatly. for when soldiers
who are awake cease talking and smok-
ing there's something serious on hand.
Pretty soon i heard splash. Aha
thought l. Somebody Is watering his
horse In a brook or pond. / crept still
closer. The ground became lower, as
II there might be a brook there. 1 got
nearer still until made out a bridge at
l~ft k,,t ,1t tx-nA Il
began TO shiver and recall ghost stories
l don't believe In ghosts. you know. but
the dim light and mysterious noises made
me think of them In spite OF myself
Finally I got right on the bank of the
brook and looked over. Then l was more
surprised than scared, for l could make
out three horses without riders and
something that looked like a tent, but all
In the water 1 made bold to challenge.
but there was no reply. Then / became
so excited that thought might as well
be shot as die through bursting blood
vessel, so l got some matches out OF my
Jacket. struck a light and made a little
fire OF dry leaves and twigs. and what do
you suppose / saw2 An ammunition
wagon lying on It's side and three OF Its
four horses partly hitched. Apparently
Il had fallen from the bridge. which
was very narrow and had no rail. II
was the rattle OF the chains of the har-
ness that made the noise you and l and
the other fellow had mistaken for the
clank OF saber scabbards. But wasn't
| provoked with myself for having been
| frightened7'
mo worse. I'll bet. than I am to hav-
ing been scared TO camp by such
bogy"
| ''I felt so ashamed" continued Brain
ard, that I really wished there might
| be soldiers somewhere In the neighbor-
| hood TO give me some honest excuse
| for being frightened My wish was graf
| ifed pretty soon. for after going along
| pretty lively for a few minutes heard
| Haltr right I'm front OF me as couple
| OF men sprang from a fence corner.
Awfully hard TO swallow ones heart
sometimes. isn't Il? soon saw. how
ever. I'm spite of the semi-darkness, that
| they weren't dressed like Johnnies. so I
| swallowed my heart and gave them the
| countersign. Then they asked me II
had seen any cavalry in the woods. Three
| of the generals orderiies In succession
had tried TO reach the center and had been
frightened into returning. SO you see,
you and I and the man who started
before us are not without company.
"Ye-es," replied. But the informa-
ton didn't comfort me much. Brainard
had succeeded. I hadn't That rehec-
ton filled my mind 10 the exclusion OF al
others. Brainard went on:
II found the headquarters In two oi
three minutes. passing through road
full OF men who had been posted TO repe'
an expected cavalry dash. There was a
half battery OF artillery with them. The
general too, was awake and nervous
all on account OF those three horse:
starding knee deep I'm a brook and shalt.
ing in their harness. The general KEEP,
me until dawn 90 bring back some dis
patches But here l am"
The lucky little rascal Al least mer
call II luck.