The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

1 rose turning my back upon the CHM
new corner and its holdings with sigh
For now the time was come for action,
and I must needs be man OF blood and
iron again.
Lacking the Catawba to guide US.
doubt if either the old man or could
have found my rear-guard's bivouac near
the trail 1 had left. But Uncanoola led
us straight through the pitchy darkness;
and when we were come upon the three
soldiers we found them all asleep around
the handful of campfire.
'Twould have been murder outright to
kill them thus. and now think the old
patriarch forgot his wrongs and was as
mercifrl as l. But not so the Catawba.'
He had armed himself with a stout war
club, and before | was free to stop him
he had knocked two of the three sleepers
sonseless. and would have battered out
their brains but for the old mans inter
Nention.
AS for the officer. I had flung myself
upon him in the rush and was having a
pretty handful of him. But though he
was broad in the shoulders. and as agile
as a cat, he was taken at a sleeping
mans disadvantage. and so, presently
had the better sof him.
Enough, mani 'tis as good as
feast he cried. when l had him fast
pinioned; and thereupon I let him have
breath and freedom to sit UP. In the
act he had his first good sight Of me, as
l had mine of him. Twas Tybee and no
other.
Cad! my captain" he said. feeling his
throat. IF you have a grip like that for
your Friends, I'm damned glad I'm not
your enemy"
But you are" I rejoined rather
shamefacedly, yet thankful to the finger
tips that l had not consented to a mas
sacre. II am for the Congress and the
Commonwealth, lieutenant, and you are
my prisoner. May 1 trouble you for the
dispatches you carry?"
He looked up at me with queer gri-
mace on his boyish face.
The devil but you're a cool hand,
Captain Iretonl Whatever you were in
that coil at Appleby, you've led the spys
long suit this time And I'm not sure
whether 1 like you any the worse for it,
If so be you must be a rebel" And with
that, he gave me the sealed packet and
asked me what would do with him.
His query set me thinking. AS for the
two stunned troopers 7 meant to turn
them over to the old man for safe keep
ing; but 1 was 10th to make it harder
than need be for this good-natured
youngster. So put him upon his honor.
do you know what this packet con-
tains?" l asked.
He laughed. MY lord did not honor
me with his confidence. 1 was to follow
you in to Major Ferguson's camp deliver
the dispatches and vanish"
Good; then you need tell no lies
When the Indian has fetched my horse,
shall ride to Fergusons camp, and you
may ride with me. / shall ask no more
than this: that you do not fight again
till you are exchanged; and that you will
not tell Major Ferguson whose prisoner
you are. Do you accept the terms %
"Gadi I'd be a fool not to. But what's
in the wind. captain? Surely you can
tell me, now that 1 am safely out of the
running.
you will know in day or two; and
in the meantime ignorance is your best
safety. You can tell Major Ferguson
that you were waylaid on the road by a
party of the enemy, and that you were
paroled and fell in with me-"
He looked a little rueful. as a good
soldier would. but was disposed to make
the best of bad bargain.
Here's my hand on it," he said; and
little later we had dragged the two
troopers 10 the cabin. where the old man
became surety for their safe keeping,
and were feeling our way cautiously
westward at the heels of the Catawba,
who had taken his directions from our
patriarch.
We pressed forward in silence through
the shadowy labyrinth of the wood for a
time, but at the crossing OF q small run
let where we would stop to let the horses
drink, Tybee burst out a-laughing.
lis as good as a play" he said
Ihree several times I've had to change
my mind about you, Captain Ireton. and
1 m not cock-sure 1 have your measure
yet. But I'll say this: if you've strung
my lord successfully. you'll be the first
to do 1t and come off alive in the end"
The end is not yet. my good friend;
and 1 may not come off better than the
others" / rejoined. And with that we
Jared on again till we could see the
campfires of Fergusons little army
twinkling between the tree trunks
CHAPTER XxxvIII.