The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-01-15
CHAPTER Mi,
DAyrrcuT ATTACK

around trees and under low limbs. aft
err running some 200 yards from the
guerrilla camp I came to a compare
lively open space. Seeing a figure
standing within 1t and surmising it to
be one Of my friends, | was about to
call when woman's voice cried
"Halt! l knew that / was covered by
weapon and stopped short.
"Are YOU
Eyes, and YOU
"Helen. This way"
She darted away like a deer. soon
overlook her, and together we ran per-
haps half mile. when she began to
climb an ascent leading to the base OF
an overhangng cliff. | saw through
the gloom a large and a small figure
climbing Just ahead of us and knew
they were Ginger and Buck. Helen led
the way up to a recess in the cliff and
| saw at once a position that we could
hold against dozen men so long as we
had food and ammunition.
"Hellow 1t was Jacks CHEEKY voice.
"Goody! Amt l glad to get out o. the
wildernessw
I'm glad enough" l said as soon rs
I could get breath to speak, "hut you
women
There was no time for words We
set about rolling big stone into gap
between two others, and as soon rs it
was in position had n continuous
breastwork. The guerrillas were call
ing to each other in the woods below,
but they did not seem to know whore
we were. | picked up one of the guns
Ginger had thrown down, Buck had
one in his hands, Ginger kept one, and
Helen seized the remaining one.
"Where do come inY chrpcd Jack
"Here." | handed her the revolver
In which there were five loaded cham
bers, and told her to hold on to it, as
she would doubtless need it. We all
took position behind our brCastworks
ready to repel an assault at the same
time seeing to the condition of our
pieces. They were cavalry carbincs,
all loaded and capped ready for use.
"Where are your horscsT' | asked.
"Picketed down there" Helen re-
Piled pointing westward, ain n thiclict
not far from the road"
"Have you anything to cat"
She glanced at parcel on the
ground. 81 got that in a cabin. There's
some corn pone and pork
Barely enough for one meal. Any
water?"
"There's some water triclding be
tween the rocks back there"
"That pone and pork means chance,
but it's slim one.'
Helen set her lips, Jack turned pale.
Ginger showed no emotion whatever,
while Buck remarked that he'd be
"darncd il he didn't PUNK one of 'em,
anyway" AS for myself, | was aghast
at the terrible fate that threatened
those who had so nobly and 50 bravely
risked all in my behalf.
"What brought you hercT | asked,
impatiently, of Helen.
when you We're taken from our
house l resolved to follow Buck came
in just as | started, and insisted on
joining me. We traced you to Colonel
Rutland's plantation
81 see. 1t was you | heard coming
In after l went up stairs"
"Ginger took the horses to the stable
and was returning TO the house when
ne saw two men climb Il tree near your
window and enter your room. He
watched from a distance and saw
them bring you out, but he could not
tell whether they were taking you
away by force or assisting you to es-
cape. Coming into the house, he told
us what had happened.
"Jack started to awaken Captain
Beaumont, but stopped her. If you
had been assisted to escape, this would
be fatal. Besides, from what Jack had
told me of the captain, | judged he
would have his nights rest before
starting i'm pursuit. told Jack | would
follow you myself, and she was wild
to come with me. Ginger had seen you
leave the plantation and knew the di-
rection you had taken. We sent him
and Buck ahead, and they soon came
near enough to you to hear your horses
hoof beats, then waited for us to come
up. Soon after we lost track of you,
but, hearing something come crashing
down the mountain
"A stone"
I'VE followed the direction Of the
sound. In the early morning Buck and
Ginger came upon YOU Unexpectedly.
AS soon as you had gone they rcjoined
us, we shadowcd you and yesterday
afternoon laid plan for your escape"
"a wild. impracticable scheme. One
circumstance has led to another. each
involving you more deeply. My God,
what load of obligation! We cant
stay here. Well starye. Buck, couldn't
you slip out in the darkness and find
help"
mo, stree; I'm not goin out O hyar.
I'm goin t stay an fight with the rest"
But you may save all our lives"
"Why don't you go, Mr. Brandy
stonew
az? must stay with your sister and
cousin. Besides I'm big and couldn't