Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31

the better route to be selected for our hard
nights ride We were both old campaign
and obedience This special duty. however
arduous and desperate it might prove to be.
was silently accepted as part Of the service
we owed the state. Reckless and hardened
as | know Craig to have been. I have no
doubt he reflected upon Lee and his kindly
words and was touched and softened by
lheir memory, as he lay there stretched at
luii length on the grass. his pipe glowing
cheerliy between his lips. But IL 50, his
thoughts remained unuttered. nor did feel
inclined to dwell upon the theme; and SO,
IN the strength of a simple comradeship
s Wnlch couid remain silent we waited pa
uenuy Tor the night to close US in.
AS early as we deemed it safe to venture.
we were again in saddle, riding now
straight to the Westward along the smooth
t DeaIen pike. until we caught sight of the
Diack shadow of Cotton Church in our front:
then we swerved to the left and still NOV
ing rapidly but with considerable care for
q, .ne horses. headed directly across the more
proken country toward the foothills
II proved to be hard, toilsome climb up
those long. steep slopes rising before us;
Tor We were extremely careful now to keep
wen away from every known route of
travel, and our horses, although selected
from among the best mounts of the cavalry
brigade, had already been, thoroughly
Winded by their smart trot up the valley.
= ne snort grass under foot, crisp from the
hot sun of the long afternoon. caused
many a slip of the poorly shod hoofs. while
the darkness had grown so close and dense
ABOUT us that We could barely creep
through II, with only faith and doubtful
memory as guides. Every road. we well
knew, would be patrolled by federal pickets:
only the broken country between could yield
us the faintest prospect of success. But at
pest 1t must largely be guesswork-Provi-
dence, luck, what you willard the slight
est swing of the pendulum could easily
Illustrate our best laid plans
AN hour OF this work passed. Whether or
not we We're yet within the enemy's lines
was largely conjecture for no human eve
could pierce the enveloping gloom, and no
sound, either of warning or encouragement,
reached us as We strained our ears. The
sergeant rode slightly in advance as we
toiled up the higher terrace, for our sole
dependence as to direction and distance Y is
upon his memory, and even that could
scarcely serve for much on such a night as
TINS l traced his passage upward as best
might, and pressed close after him guided
not SO much. by sight by sound-the
occasional rolling of a loosened stone, the
rustling of leaves he touc,- I'd a bush in
passage, the faint clinkfng of his saber.
and the heavy breathing of his horse-until
at last his long, slender figure rose suf-
helently above the dark hill surface to be
family silhouetted in deeper shadow
against the dim reflection of the upper sky.
Almost coincidenty with this my horse
ranged up beside his, where he had drawn
rein in evident perplexity T.
What is it, Dan?' I questioned eau
tiously; for all I could feel reasonably as
sured of just then was that behind any rock
or tree in our front there might be crouch
ing federal picket.
It's nothin, Cap" he answered quietly,
turning his face toward me as he spoke.
I'm just tryin' ter member some landmark
yereabout ter guide from. Blamed if ever
see such a dark night; it's like bein inside
pocket, sir, an I reckon as how it must
be nigh onter ten year since run loose in
this yere country as kid. Tibet thar cut
off we took while back has sort o. con-
fused me, that's a fac, and I don't just
know whar I am; but reckon as how the
main ridgeroad we're a huntin' after
oughter run somewhat out yonder." He
pointed forward into the night.
II supposed from the map it would be
found farther back and considerably to the
right of u.s." / ventured doubtfully.
Never saw no map. Cap he returned,
with the easy familiarity of a scout on serv-
ice. "But If I recollect clear, it sure used
ter run mighty close ter the east edge. 1
reckon it amt changed none to speak of,
an so it'll have ter be somewhere just
along thar
He spoke withnsuch an air of certainty