Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-11-02

A scrambly ride was that to the low lands, but toward ten o'clock they struck wood path. and began to stir the dogs of scattered homesteads in the foot hills. A sudden turn of the path brought them to the edge of cleared field and in view of scattered
 sned or two. Then came double cnal- lenge. First the impudent snarl and dash of brace of back country mon- grels; then the stern Halt thar! Dis- mount! of cavalry vedette, starting from the shadow of 8 clump of stunt ed trees, not 50 feet away.
 Before Hector, limp and trembling. could slip to earth in obedience to the order, Benton's hand was on his arm, lugging him back into saddle, while his heels made vigorous play. "stoop low, you fool, and follow!" he swore between his set teeth as he whirled his horse about and at plunging gallop tore westward again by the way they came. A shot rang out. A bullet went whizzing into the shrubbery, but be-
 fore the solitary sentry could reload, or the men from the picket reach him, Benton and Hector were 400 yards away back along the wood path and heading through the darkness for the higher refuge of the hills. Unwitting- 1y they struck a northward-bending path at an unseen fork, and there, as no sound of pursuit reached them, Ben ton bade Hector cease his terrific heel- ing of his horses ribs, and gladly enough the half-blown beasts came down to heaving walk The i'll luck that had led them into the outermost picket of the confederate force turned to blessing when, near midnight. they found themselves at an unguarded reach of this far-away branch of the Rappahannock, and the thirsting horses, eager for drink, found their own ford to the other shore.
 That night they slept in. barn some distance south of Salem. hidden by friendly darkies. for now Hector feared to return. He felt sure that his connection with Benton's escape was known. and that dire punishment awaited him. He would unite his for tunes with those of his new master, and be his groom and hostler for the rest of his days. A young negro prom ised to fetch mule at four in the morning and guide them over the hills toward New Baltimore, eastward-they dare not try the roads, or Thorough fare Gapand from New Baltimore, once across the Warrenton pike. Ben ton hoped to be able to reach the union lines. True to his word and his hopes of reward, the young fellow reused them an hour before the dawn and had them clear of the valley roads before sun up. Then from the heights back of the Warrenton pike Benton secured the low ground toward Manassas with his glasses, and only far south of Broad Run could he see sign of cavalry of any kind, and so. bidding their latest guide adieu, he and his faithful Hector rode hopefu1ly-yet slowly, for the beasts were leg weary--down from the wood ed range toward the long seam through the open country, the once weIl-trav- eIed high road to the lovely old county seat of Fauquier. They were looking for abandoned shack, cabin or barn where they could hide untilatWilighbi.
 Toward noon their startled ears caught the sound of hoof- beats on the hillside, and there came shambling in- to sight wild-eyed negro on a re- monstrant mule. Run, Marse!'' he cried, at sight of Benton. Run, fo' Gawd's sake! Dey's 100 sojers hunt in every house an balm just over the hill. suh. and comin' dis way!"
 Then came a ride almost for life. They turned into a lane leading away southeastward between desolate fields; halted to blow" their panting, reek- ing horses at little clump of trees near southward sweep of the mill stream Broad Run--then Benton un- slung his glass and took deliberate survey of the distant hills, then of the country over which they had come. and, spurring like mad down 8 slope of the heights, barely three miles back of them, came a dozen gray horsemen. They've seen us,' said he, as quietly { as he could, and Electors trembling hands helped him again to mount. l Then away dashed the pair for the first ford of the stream, only to see as they rode out dripping on the oppo- site bank that the distant fringe of l the Manassas woods looked far away as ever. Oh, for sight of union flank 1 CTS now!
 ! A long half hour they rode, as fast as jaded steed could bear them, but I Electors horse was nearly done. The spare oak openings. the scattered copses, now were only half mile ahead, but southward, cutting them off from Bristoe, galloped jaunty half l dozen, following the lead of a dashing rider. Behind them, still beyond car bine range but slowly gaining. full 20 troopers were spreading out over the l open fields. turning them, as 1t were, l from the left. The soil was growing loose and soft and spongy now that I they had left the lanes, and every now and then they plunged through holes, deep and treacherous. but still they ! lashed ahead, Electors poor brute grooming staggering with every stride l Presently the ground began slowly ris- ing and the woods grew thick. If only they could reach them! Surely the | f~. oI<~ \. I