The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-12-01


Tim hit the bottom and go forward on
his krees. Then he reared up, and be-
gan to jump In the sand A big wave
washed him down again. He fell on
his side in shallow but rose and ran
YEARLY over soft beach In the black
ness around me could see nothing. A
branch whipped me in the face, and
duGked ! was not quick enough; it
bough hit me, raking the withers OF my
horse, and | rolled off headlong in a
! lot of bushes The horse went on, out
OF hearing, but was glad enough TO
lie still. for | had begun to know Of my
bruises In a few minutes took off
my boots and emptied them and wrung
my blouse. and lay back, eursing my
Ill luck
But that year of 1873 had the kick
| OF i'll fortune in 1t for every mothers
| soL of us there in the north country
1 | have ever noticed that war goes in
/ waves of success or failure. II we had
| had Brown or Scott TO lead us that
/ year. instead of Wilkinson, believe
/ il had had a better history. Here was
| in the enemy's country God knew
| where. or how, or when | should come
out OF it. thought of D'ri and how it
had gone with him in that hell of wa
ters. | knew ii would be hard to drown
him We were so near shore, If he
had missed the rocks felt sure he
would come. out safely. | thought OF
Louison and Louise, and wondered if
ever ! should see them again. Their
facesshone upon me there in the win ~
darkness. and one as brightly as the
other. AfterwhIes | drew my wet
blouse over me and went to sleep, shiv-
ering
familiar sound woke me--that of
the reyeille The sun was shining, the
sky clear the wind had gone down.
crew sat calling in the Tree above my
head lay in strip of timber, thin
and narrow on the lake shore. Through
the bushes could see the masts of the
brig slanting out of water some rods
away, Beyond the timber was field
Of corn. climbing a side-hill that sloped
off to level, grassy plain. Beyond the
hilltop, reveille was still sounding. A
military camp was near me and al
though | made no move my mind was
up and busy as a cat at a mouse hole,
looking down at my uniform, not. in
deed, the most healthful sort of dress
for that country. All at once | caught
sight Of scarecrow in the corn. |
laughed at the odd grotesquery of the
tfing-an old frock coat and trousers
Of olive-green, faded and torn and fat
with straw. A stake driven through its
collar into the earth. and crowned with
an ancient. tall hat of beaver, gave IL q !
backbone, An idea came 10 me. ]
would rob the scarecrow and hide my
uniform. | ran out and hauled it over
and pulled the stuffing out of it. The
coat and trousers were made for a |
stouter man. ! drew on the latter, fat
tening my figure with straw TO fit |
them, That done | quickly donned !
the coat Each sleeve-end fell to my |
fnger-tips, ana its girth would have !
circled -four barrel and buttoned with /
room to spare. But with my stuffing of |
straw 1t came around me as snug at |
the belt as the coat of bear. | took I
alarm as | closed the buttons For half |
a minute | had heard a drum-tap COM
ing nearer 1t was the measured tap! /
tap, tap-tap-tap! so familiar to me. |
Now could hear the tread of feet COM |
ing with it back of the hill How soon !
they would heave in sight was unable |
to reckon. but | dared not run for |
cover, So / thrust my scabbard deep /
in the soft earth pulled down the big
beaver hat ovar my face. muffied my /
neck with straw, stuck the stake in I
front OF me TO steady myself, and stood
stiff as any scareerow in Canada Be-
fore | was done column, scarlet |
coated, came out in the level beyond
the hillside Through hole in The
beaver could sec them clearly. They
came on rank after rank They de-
ployed, forming an open square. scar
let-sided, on the green turf, the gap to-
ward me. Then came three. walking
stii1y in black coats, squad leading
them. The thing had taken for a
white visor was a blindfold Their
heads were bare. ! could see now. they
we're in shackles, their arms behind
hem. They were coming to their death
some OF my unlueky comrades God
pity them, A spy might as we'll make
his peace with heaven. if he were
,aught those days. and be done with
hope Suspicion was enough to convict
IN either side of the water that year.
As my feet sank deeper in the soft
Earth | felt as If | were going down to
my grave. The soldiers led them into
he gap. standing them close together.
packs TO me The squad drew OF. The
prisoners stood erect. their faces turn
ng UP little, as If they were looking
nto the clear. blue sky could see
hem waver as they stood waiting The +
,harp-shooters advanced. halting as
hey raised their rifles To my horror.
saw the prisoners were directly be-
ween me and them. Great Cod was
also of that little company about TO
lie? But / dared not move a step. d
tood still. watching, trembling. An
,ffleer in a shining helmet was speak
ne to the rifiemen His helmet seemed
n i,5mn and nuivnr ae he r,nvnd ausox-