The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-22
THE THURSDAY

squad came at gallop; the four rushed
| forward.
Between his teeth Norge, called, asa,
| lutte Them
In double velocity the two groups pass
ed each other at such storm that the
COnfederates were uncertain as to the
| character of those whom they had met, for
| they, also. were i'll their shirt sleeves; but
Morgan looked back, and saw the men
coming to a halt and turning in their sad,
dies and gesticulating.
Look out ahead" roared Armstrong,
and Morgan's face came with a jerk to the
| right about, and he saw, coming, a troop
of horse, which he knew to be the main
body for which the squad was but the ad-
| vance guard; the speed had slackened.
What are they, George?" cried the Ser
geant.
Yankees, undoubtedly-so were the
| Others"
Morgan again turned; the squad were
pursuing their way; no doubt they had
decided that the main body would speedily
settle the question.
| The Sergeant debated rapidly: would the
commander of this troop consider them
orthodox simply because his advance guard
had allowed them to run into greater peril
Not much time did Morgan have; the
Federals were within 40 rods, coming at
trot.
''To the right. Charley" he exclaimed
He could not expect this large body To
give him half the road: even if unques-
| toned Mt the moment of meeting the head
of the column, his speed must be dimin-
ished for lack of ground, and the color
of the trousers would be known easily.
A narrow lane was leading up to n
farm house some 300 yards from the high
way. Sency and Armstrong turned up the
lane in n trOt, Morgan and Joe follow
ing.
Walk" ordered the Sergeant. He
hoped that the Federals would pass with
out attempting to examine them; then lie
would wait for Squire.
At their left, by turning n little. they
could see the head of the cavalry column
not more than hundred and fifty yards
away and getting nearer, for the speed
of the Federals was the greater.
Morgan ordered Armstrong and Sency
to keep their faces to the front and ride
on; he ordered Joe to ride on; he brought
his own horse to slow walk, and let his
comrades distance him. He threw his
right leg over his saddle and bent over,
seeming to seek timely comfort.
An instant more and Halt! halt" came
from his rear.
Morgan halted: the three others were
riding On-some 60 yards away.
Morgan turned his horse to face the
challengers his party were rid
ing on three Federals were rid
ing up the lane their speed les
scned =" the troop in their rear was
passing the mouth of the lane
the foremost Federal turned and waved
his hand his two followers
went to the right about and followed after
the troop.
Morgan made sure that his right-hand
pistol was easy in its holster; he could see
that the man approaching was an officer;
better to ride forward and meet him-nOw
lie could see his shOulder-straps. Good
morning Captain" he shouted, almost
guessing at his rank; then. before any re-
Spouse had been made, Can you tell me
where l can find the General?"
The Federal halted. Morgan saw that
he was very yOung-yOunger than him
self; yet as he sat his horse lie looked all
of mana stern soldier. and hardy,
though handsome and of refined features.
Not two rods separated the hOrscmen-
one trembling inwardly with suspense. the
others face unmOved mt first rs he raised
his right hand and held it before him to
shield his eyes while he looked up the hill
on Morgan, for the sun was directly in
his front; yet the palm of his hand was
outward; even at the expense of awk-
wardncss the owners dignity must not be
permitted to suffer by discour,csy to an
other.
All Mt once the Confederate saw that
his antagonists cnuntcnance had changer:
Indifference had yielded to an expression
OF bewildcrinent or other feeling which
the Sergeant knew not accurately to con
struc; for up to this point lie had but at
tempted TO play the part of any Federal
hot the part of one only Federal. Nor
gan. also. had raised his hand. to return
what he had momentarily conceived So
lutte. but his hand had dropped quickly to
his side. while the others hand remained
in the air.
Perhaps not three seconds had passed,
the officer silent and preserving his aiti-
tude. when, moved by some incXplicabr
cause such as affects one ut peculiar times
through q sense of the ludicrous, Morgan
smiled.
Aha cried the Federal. instantly. and
lowering his hand, ''is it you. rcally:'
Really and truly. Captain answered
Morgan, with as much GOODNESS as his
would allow. his smile gone.
serious, alert. drcadng this man of mys-
teriOus approach.
We'll III swear" said the officer. com
ing nearer; who would have expected To
find you here? We heard you lad been
killed. or at least so badly wounded that
you couldn't move. l believe | remember
that you asked me about the Cen
eral, and in my perplcxity l failed to an
Swer. PleasOnton is up above-near
Frederick, somewhere. How in the name
of sense do they spread such reports?"
And where is Stuart with his gang?"
exclaimed Morgan, his first wonder sup
planted by greater. yet ready now 10
play the part forced upon him.
Gone north toward Hanover How
did you get here? III swear I didn't
know yGu till you smiled: you've changed.
Why. man. don't yOu know that your con
duet is disgraceful in the extreme? You
were given up for sone-dead. wounded. |
missing, a triple casualty, and yet here
you are, just the same as ever except |
that you don't seem quite strong yet. For
mercys sake, give me your recipe
We'll, Captain, my horse was killed, |
but strange to say | wasn't But | was
cut off and had to stay on the south side |
picked up a darky who helped me: he's
with me still. lingering behind somewhere
I'll be obliged if you'll hurry iiim up when
you meet him. Can't you come up to the |
house yonder and help me get breakfast,
Captain?'
mo, Morgan, I must ride on. I'm on |
Urgent business; the General has given
me- 20 men. and I'm after big game To
ell You the TRUTH and now the officers
roice was low we've learned that a mes
'enser from Jeff Davis is trying to make
his way through to Lee, and I'm going to
catch him if the thing can be done"
But you don't expect to find him as
ow as this, surely?" exclaimed the Con
ederate.
1--WE are taking care of every ford. I'm
low on my way up higher said the Off
,er, whose frank eye had not once left the
'ebel's face.
"And where is the army?' asked Nor