The National tribune., 1903-12-24
CHAPTER XIV.
A FLASK FOR TWO.

CHAPTER XIV.
A FLASK FOR TWO.
"Ber Who's there?
Fran. Nay. answer me! Stand and unfold
yourselfw -Shakspere.
Safe, at least for the time, old Squire
heard the Federal cavalry march by on
the road It was clear as the sun that
he could not overtake Mosby until that
leader should halt, and he saw no indica-
tions but those Of continued fight and pur-
suit: so he determined quickly that the
best thing for him to do was to return
to Mr.. Vests, whittier his master, or at
least Usher, would not long delay his COM
Ing; -. ..o,s 1,.. how far h.
must 20 he knew not, or the precise direc-
ton, but Bull Run Mountain was before
him; once on It's high western slope he
would be able to see villages and roads,
and make his way; the mountains. in many
places, he already knew. He went north
horse was a good one, but would need
feeding. As for his own needs he was
armed with q Federal haversack which
he had not yet explored.
After a time he heard cannon, not near
enough to perturb him on his own account.
but It gave him fear for Mahs Chahley;
his course had led him too far from the
pursuit to enable him to hear the sound
of smail-arms. He became extremely eau
tious; In his uncertainty OF the where
abouts of ell Federals, he advanced only
after looking in every direction; he must
cross the road on which the Federals
were moving, but 9ot yet; he would go
slow until safe in the mountain.
Toward noon he found a small grassy
Rlade in the midst, of the low woods. The
spot was very inviting. He was hungry,
and his horse strained at the bride to crop
the good grass; a small brook ran near
by.
He dismounted and picketed bis horse
TO Craze; then he sat down and rummaged
his haversack.
"Oohm, hahdtack-man wat fixed up
dis blamed stuff didn't had no ikin' feh ole
sqniah-oohnl. salt pohk--I not a-EEme
to run fom dat-oohm, cavity an sugah
all mixed up-an, wat dis in de big bot
tie? Hit shake lax some'h'm good fen
true
He unscrewed the cover of the metal
task and smelt.
.3Oohmoo! dat des lax dat med Gin Doc
toh guv me. Hit mex me fohgit my trou-
bles."
SQUIRE did not make himself entirely
drunk, neither was he able to preserve
complete sobriety. When he got his con-
sent TO leave the spot, the sun was de-
scending toward the mountain tops; ne had
slept; his horse had ceased to eat the tall
grass.
He replaced in his haversack the re-
mains of his food, and the big flask atop.
An hour more and he had begun to go
up the mountain side: and now he con-
cluded, after renewing his courage, that
II was no longer needful to keep the thick
woods, for here before him was GOOD
open way seemingly untravelled for long.
leading In the right direction; he took II
and went on more rapidly, for he wanted
TO attain the western side OF the range,
while yet there should be good light.
Around him, seemingly unconcerned at
the nearness or at the noise OF the great
four-footer that could not climb, squirrels
were chattering: one of them scampered
across the way, his tail bent in the most
ultra fashionable OF convolutions, and
hung motionless three feet from earth
on the bole Of great oak; Squire watched
him.
When the negro's eyes next rested on
the path before him, he halted--a man
was In the way.
Sunlight had not yet gone in the val
ley, but here In the woods the mountain
shadow was gloomy, and Squire at FIRST
glance was unable to know more thap
that the man was afoot and In blue, and
seemed unarmed. The face was hidde,l
by a dropping bough very near IT.. yet
Squire could see that the strangers front
was presented, and ii required no great
reasoning to determine that the blue man
had q mighty coign Of vantage in relation
20 that leafy branch through which un-
distant horseman.
There was, however, In the strangers
attitude an indeseriba BILE something--an
indeterminate quality akin to hesitation.
yet greater. Yes. Squire had no sooner
seen the man than be resolved not to fee;
for the man surely, though motionless.
radiated, ~ il were. subtle evincement
Of tremulous alarm.
Squire himself was the hrst to speak:
'Mahsta, kin yon tell nae sf you Il seed
any stray hossesp
The man came forward; his right hand
was performing violent and mysterious
action in the air; In his left was bunch
Of live chickens.
"well. | swain to God If it amt shu,
Unc Squiah"'
"Ds Lawd amassyr' exclaimed the old
pan. holding out his hand. "Babney, you
a-lookln' 80 hahty! sot on my hoss
right sheah, an ! says. says /, Dat man
yendeh he done plum got los an he dun
no whah to 60, an so l nee'n' TO be
skeehed o. him, an bless Gawd, Bahney,
tuck you feb Q w'its man, des 'cazhe
bush. But, bless Gawd. I II glad to see
you, an to see you a-lookin' 50 peaht.
Whah you Gwine, BahneyY' and Squire's
voice was not devoid Of suspicion.
Il ain't a-gwine nowhAh now, Unc
SQuiah: done ben. An ali got to do
Il to Git back But swaih to God, heah
you is oncet moe, when l amt nsveh been
expectin' to see you no moe"
Squire gave an indescribabls motion oil
the head, indicating . complexity oi
IDEAS
"Whaffuh you say dat. niggeh7 Yor
ben a-lookin' TO heah dat done daid
You ben a-cockin' up yo' yeahs to heat
dat2 You betteh be a-tekkin' keen o. 20
own skin. Now, let shu know dat"
'Now, Unc Squiah, don't shu 60 to git
tim rlied about nothin'," says Barney, eyi
IDENTIFY desiring to conciiiate; "you jest 81
down an step out here In de bresh an
I'll tell you some h'm,"
IAN whah izh so camp at, Bahney7
ben a-heahin' dat shu hole on to dat Capt
Freeman oncet moe" SQuire's gaze wa
stin full upon Barney's face.
Yes, Unc Squiah; had to hole on 4
him yit, Gaze II so fuh back down whal
got to 90 to. Git right down an com,
along out In de bresh. De's ben som,
turrible gwines-on dis day, an I sho' 4
mighty glad to fall in with you once
mc'e.
Although Squire was suspicious, ye
not trace of reluctance was in his mint
concerning possible danger of betrayal b]