The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-03-19

fee. The Lieutenant was with friends
and delivered his dispatches to Gen. Min,
ty, 90 miles farther up the valley.
The Lieutenant and Dandy had their
choice TO go up the valley with Ninty,
then over the mountains 200 miles, or to
go back the road they came from Crow
Creek Valley. They talked it over to.
gether, Dandy in horse lingo, the Lleuten'
ant in his mind. Something impelled Dan
dy that way, as, walking out Of camp, he
turned to the back track.
What strange power is it that seems at
times to watch over our lives?. We act
at once upon some strange, unaccountable
influence that guides us out Of danger.
1t was in the cedars of Stone River that
| December day of go. when Sheridan's
| Division was so stubbOrnly contestins
every inch of ground from behind stone
and tree. The Lieutenant was then q
Duty Sergeant; the regiment had been
doubled back out of the cotton-felds into
| the cedars. where every man was fighting
for himself, the enemy advancing with a
line Of fire. The Sergeant found himself
almost alone unon the line; the man to
the left was dead at his feet: all about him
were dead or wounded: all others had fall
| EN- back. He fred full into the ranks of
the advancing enemy and turned to run.
| He had gone but few rods, with bullets
and shells whistling and screeching all
| about him, when the thought flashed
through his brain, You will get hit just
as quick running as walking" Instantly
he stopped to walk, and as he did so q
shell from fanking gun passed by in
| front. striking first horse. which gave Il
cry of agony. then through cedar tree,
! throwing snlinters in the air.
| The incident gave him n confidence that
| carried him through many battles. be
| lief that ''impulse' was a guardian spirit
always to be needed.
And now knowing the chance for fight
or Il horse race he rode away. The road
led a few miles toward Bridgeport. then
forked to the right, leading through an,
other valley. Coming to this point Dandy
stopped. 1--WE will go to the right" said
| the Lieutenant. ITS new country and of
the main line; somewhere it will cross
over the mountains to Crow Creek Val
| ley 1t was but an impulse, something
| that told him of new scenes. He had
taken in his brain the topography of the
| other route. Here was new country tC
conquer. new farms and cabins. strange
woods and hills. new springs and noun
| tain waters for. Dandy and himself. fol
| they never passed n spring without getting
their noses wet, and. indeed, it proved q
new world For with the exception of in,
dividual soldiers. natives of the valley
none of wars terrors" had come that
way. There were no trampled roads, nc
desolate cabins, no burned fences. nc
| fresh-made graves by the roadsdes. Flow
ers were blooming in the gardens. cattle
grazing on the hillsides, honeybees filling
| up their store houses for the Winter, and
turkey -sObblers strutting around like new
political Major-Generals just out from
| New York. 1t would take Just one cam
paign to demoralize them all.
They came to n most enchanting spot
where the road crossed n mountain stream
mild and tame in Summer, but Il rushing
| torrent after the Winter rains. The log
that made the foot bridge had been washed
aside, and there was no one to put il
back; so those that would cross ovel
must wade. Along the grassy banks tho
trees were festooned with vines that met
overhead in an arch. and the water came
ripping down the fragrant tunnel of vines
flowers and trees. Dandy browsed the
tempting grass, while the Lieutenant
stretched in the shade. was building cas-
ties in the air. What bird do l heal
now: That's a strange one TO me-" h,
! said. Guess that must be hooking
bird" and he sat mp ard listened. AS il
came nearer. whistling strains of music, ;
song seemed warbling, echoing. on boil
sides of the stream, coming nearer all tn.
time.
III | had soncbird like that in /:
cage, 1 would make my fortune II,
| unused. Dandy raised his head, he too
| was listening; his eyes and ears wer,
again talking. in silent words, to his com.
rade. Enraptured. they remain motion
less. All along the river bank the wilt
birds took up their songs and the wood,
were filled with the sweetest music thai
| man will ever hear This side of the bea IL
q &c