The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-03-11

but finally came to a large animal
which showed no fear.
Quickly placing his saddle and bri-
die securely for q desperate ride, he
mounted, and avoiding the road, where
nc knew ~sentries were surc TO be post
ed, he made off into folds and over
fences, until he felt fairly secure from
successful pursuit. Then, having a
fine knowledge Of stars and woodcraft
In general, he took observations, and
proceeded in the general direction Of
the spot where he thought his com
fades were likely to have left the
road, avoiding it, and still proceed
ing through fields, forests, and over
fences.
Even in this emergency the lessons
which his mother had taught him were
not for a moment forgotten. The
wrongs suffered by her race had not
cmbittercd her, but had impressed her
strongly with the duty Of observing
strictly the rights of others. When a
fence was too high for safe jumping
he would dismount and let it down.
Ii it merely separated field and forest
or two barren fields, he left it open;
but if ii separated fields in which
crops were growing, or in either Of
which was a crop, he conscientiously
replaced it in as good condition as
when he found it.
All of the knowledge that he had of
the country was that a settlement
called Lousy Level lay to the left Of
the road, and that his comrades would
be encamped to the right Of it. Where
the road was he had but little idea.
He wanted to know where Lousy Level
was in order that he might 90 in the
other direction.
Toward midnight he came to a farm
house, and with that one bit Of infor.
nation as a pretext to arouse the
farmer and ask the direction to that
locality. In reply to q question,
which was natural in those troublous
times, he replied that his mother was
sick over on the Level, and that he
had been after a doctor.
AS soon as the farmer had returned
to the house Tom went to the sprinx
house, where he had discovered some
pans Of milk, and stopped long enough
to drink the contents OF one, which
was o mighty source of strength for
his desperate ride.
Leaving the level Of unseemly name
far to the left he kept the course as
his Judgment and the stare dictated,
and after a long ride, after many strug-
giles with briars and brambles, after
passing through many strips of forest
and crossing many a rail fence, his
hear bundled for joy as they emerged
into the highway and he discovered a
freshly broken laurel branch, lying
upon the right side.
Getting down he soon founda fence,
and could plainly see where a party of
horsemen had crossed, anS then put
up the gap.
A mile or two further on he found
his friends, all wrapped in soundest
slumber-not even q sentry out to give
the alarm in case of the approach of
foe or friend. They did lot Ok.
poet a visitation from either, they felt
so sure Of their hiding place. They
all needed . full nights rest, too, in
order q be ready for the great ride Of
the morrow.
Tom pioketed his horse, rolled him.
self in his blanket, and was soon as
sound asleep as the happiest of the
party.
Aboa. daybreak he was awakened
by an exclamation, "Why, boys, lookl
There is a strange horsel''
The presence Of. the animal caused
a good deal Of CONSERVATION; bat when
n Of the scouts discovered Tom roll
ed up in his blanket and called atten-
ton to him, the lieutenant exclaimed,
in enthusiasm, which military discip-
line did not check, "Well, if there
amt that darned 1njun."
In urn every man in the party gave
their companion, so unexpectedly re-
turned to them, a sound hug and o
"God bless you, Tom. my boyi"
1t proved that the horse which Tom
had stolen as an answer to his ha.f
day long prayer was the property of
the wagon master, and the hest trav-
eler in the federal command.
a GoVdio. 80 HIo , t