Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-12-20
CHAPTER KIN.

along Main street, out at the Rockets.
There the pickets ON duty challenged
then but Walter, being a field officer.
hao 10th the password and the counter
sign, and they were Immediately allowed
TO proceed without question.
Demon had not spoken a word on the
way. Walter turned down the Williams
burg stage road and passed camp after
camp among the pines, being only allow
ed to proceed after satisfying the senti-
nels at each place.
May | ask" said Demon, on sud
den. what you propose to do with IneY
You shall be dealt by fairly, replied
Walter, sternly, but without emotion.
You shall be shown all the leniency you
can expect, and a great deal more than
you have the right to expect"
Demon saw that it would be useless to
continue the conversation. and STROBE
along without another word. When Lney
arrived at the angle of the Williamsburg
stage road and of the Charles City road,
Walter took the direction of the latter,
and followed it for a couple of miles or
more.
At last he arrived at a part where sew
eral rows of small shelter tents shone
white in the moonlight between the great
pines by the side of the road. 1t was the
camp of the Louisianians. Here the
sentry saluted, and the officer Of the
guard came to meet his major.
1.-The battalion is away on picket
duty" said the officer of the guard.
There is nobody in the camp but the
guard and few of the sick. An order
came late in the evening from Gen. Hill.
The Fourth Alabama were to have fur
rNIahC afHlr1A -
badly cut up last Saturday that they
could not have found men enough. We
were the next troops, and so We got the
order"
Walter walked through the rows OF
small tents into larger one at the end of
line. A big, square-headed and huge
footed negro servant met him, and open
ed his eyes wide with amazement when
he saw the imitation man of color in the
company of his master
Don't mind him, joe" said Walter
"You will find his color will wash off,
and he will turn out only white after all.
Fetch two or three buckets of water and
some soap"
With that he beekoned Demon TO come
into the tent, and pointed to a camp
stool. Demon seated himself without
further ado, and said:
Il suppose you wish me to take these
things off. But 1 have no other cloth
ing"
II will supply that" answered Walter,
and taking a suit of civilians homespun
from a bag, threw it on the heap of
blankets which served as bed.
MY servant viii assist YOU" he said :;
"and in the meantime l am going to con-
slider how to settle this business with
fairness TO both of u.s."
With that he sat himself down on a
camp stool outside the tent, seeking a
light amid the nebulous turmoil which
clouded his thoughts. Demon, in the
meantime, aided by Joe, had resumed
his own appearance in a suit of drab
homespun.
II ,wlll now tell you what propose
to do" said Walter, when he had sent
the negro away. Il have been thinking
over the matter as we walked along, and,
since l have been here, have just learn
Ell chat my battalion is on picket duty,
and this has given me an idea which
leads me to what l think a fair settle
ment. You are q spy, or something very
like it. OF that l have no doubt My
plain duty as an officer of the Confed-
eracy is to hand you over to the provost
guard. At the same time, know that
Miss Tenure endeavored to save you.
by hiding you in her own room, and by
helping you to the disguise you wore a
little time ago. l owe a duty to her as
well. If 1 can, viii satisfy both obi
cations"
He was speaking slowly and without
the least trace of excitement, and he
paused for a moment tc look at the man
opposite him, who sat there In somber
silence.
"We are going to fight" said Walter.
on a sudden, "and either l viii kill you
or you will kill me-"
Demon shrank back with barely per-
ceptible movement, but raised himself
ag.sin with sigh Of relief.
Every WELL" he said, certainly, If
that is the way out of the difficulty. How
are we to fight? Where are we TO fightT'
II have provided for that" said Wal
ter. "We will fght with reyolvers.
will supply you with a weapon loaded
with six chambers. L will have another
of exactly the same kinda Colts army
revolver. l will take you outside our
picket line. so that, if you kill me or so
severely wound me that | am left on the
ground, You shall not be prevented from
escaping toward the Union lines. If !
kill you. Of course, there is an end of it;
and if 1 disable you, you win have to
take your chances if you are taken back
into the Confederate lines"
THAT MEANS" said Demon, slowly.
''that am to take my chances of death
from your bullet and through hanging
by your people, both"
81 think the offer very fair one"
said Walter. land it will have to be that.
or the course which plain duty demands
from me, and which yield to yon, risk
ing my life"
81 accept" said Demon. do I I'M
derstand you rightly? Let us settle all
POINTS FIRST of all. How are we to fire
When are we TO freg'
1--WE will walk together beyond our
nickel lines" replied Walter, "until l
shall cry lJaltr Tlen we will turn back
10 back. and each of US viii march fifteen
PAGES. we wiz face round again, and
thea fire. and continue firing until the
end is attained l think you are man
of honor, and viii trust you. hope
that you will trust me. We viii be bet
ter without seconds.
Demon held out his hand and Walter
gripped il warmly. A momentary gasp
cOnvulSed tue HuShShauaA Aaud>ohle
face. and he breathed deer sigh.
Il underssani you. said Demon, "and
I thank you. l am ready
The strange duel was fought as ar
ranged. and at the second fire both fell,
almost MORALLY wounded. 20 the -round.
Their shots seemed to have aroused both
the Union and Confederate troops, each
side taking the reports as the signal of
an attack from the other side. sharp
skirmish ensued. and when il was over
the Union troops were in orderly retreat.
As they passed the scene OF the due
Demon raised himself on one arm, and
called 20 one OF the federal officers by
name.
Don't you know me. Frasier?' he
cried. Il am Demon. Don't leave me
here"