Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-08

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clearings and creeping ever higher
toward the crest until the foothills at
last were left far below Then on again
| northward. and, so tortuous was their
way, so many were the halts. making
on bee line little more than a mile an
hour they bored through the wilder
ness until late in the afternoon. from
bare projecting ledge. they obtained
their first unimpeied view OF the east
ward, and saw the North Fork. the
Hedgman. like silver thread.
That night the moon stood high to-
ward the zenith. BY midnight 1t would
sink behind the Blue Ridge. and Ben
ton ordered forward while the faint
light lasted, despite Hectors demurrer.
They must try to cross the Hedgman
while the moon served, then hide in
the woods on the further shore until
the dawn of another day.
A scrambly ride was that to the low
lands. but toward ten o'clock they
struck a wood path. and began to stir
the dogs of scattered homesteads i'm
the foot hills. A sudden turn of the
path brought them to the edge of a
cleared field and in view OF a scattered
shed or two. Then came double chal-
lenge. First the impudent snarl and
dash OF brace OF back country mon
grels; then the stern Halt thar. Dis
mounts! OF cavalry vcdette, starting
from the shadow OF a clump of stunt
ed trees, not 90 feet away.
Before Hector. limp and trembling.
could slip to earth in obedience to the
order. Benton's hand was on his arm.
Juggling 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 gallon
tore westward again by the way they
came. A shot rang out. A bullet went
whizzins into the shrubbcry. 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. Inviting
| ly they struck a northward-b 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.
Toward noon their startled ears
| caught the sound of hoof-beats on the
hillside, and there came shambIing in
to sight wild-eyed negro on a re-
| monstrant mule. Run, Marse!" he
cried, at sight of Benton Run, TO
Gawd's sake, Dey's 100 sojers hunt
in every house an balm just over the
hill, sub, and comm dis wayl"
| Then came a ride almost for life.
| They turned into a lane leading away
southeastward between desolate fields;
| halted to blow" their painting. reek-
| ing horses at little cIump of trees
near a southwark sweep of the mill
stream-Broad Run-thcn Benton I'M
slung his glass and took deliberate
survey OF the distant hills then of
the country over which they had come.
and, squirting like mad down slope
of the heights, barely three miles back
OF them, came a dozen gray horsemen.
IheyVe seen us said he, as quietly
as he could. and Hector's trembling
hands helped him again to mount.
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
the Manassas woods looked far away
as ever. oh. for a sight Of union flank
ers now,
long half hour they rode. as fast
as Jaded steed could bear them, but
Hector's horse was nearly done. The
spare oak openings, the scattered
copses, now were only half a mile
ahead. but southwark, cutting them off
from Bristoe. galloped a jaunty half
dozen. following the lead OF dashing
rider Behind them, still beyond car
blne range but slowly gaining. full 20
troopers were spreading out over the
open iields, turning" them. as it were.
from the left The soil was growing
loose and soft and spongy now that
they had left the lanes. and every now
ana then they plunged through holes
deep and treacherous. but still they
| lashed ahead. Heetor's poor brute
grooming staggering with every stride.
! Presently the ground began slowly ris-
ing and the woods grew thick II only
/ 'hey could reach them, Surely the
union pickets must b. close at hand.
ana now as they drove in among the
clumps OF stunted trees. they lost sight
I" the troopers TO the south. Now the
yelIs Of those in rear became exuItant
ana sim came no shot. Then. as they
struggled through boggy slough. with
sickeniRs groan Hector's exhausted
morse went down and ioundered helm
iess IN the mud. his wretched rider
HN