Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-11

the crest of the road, before it plunged
down toward the coast, was a wagolt ly-
ing against the hedge. with the hoses
gone; and beside it. stretch'd across the
road. an old woman. Stopping, we found
her dead, with a sword-thrust through
the left breast; and inside the wagon a
young man lying. with his jaw bound up
dead also And how this sad spectacle
happend here, so FAR from the battle.
fell. was more than we could guess.
was moving away, when Billy, that
was kneeling in the road, CHANGED to cast
his eyes up toward the sea, and dropping
the dead woman's hand, scrambled on his
feet and stood looking, with a puzzled
face. Following his gaze. | saw a small
sloop moving under shorten'd canvas,
about two miles from the land. She made
pleasant sight with the last rays of
sunlight flaming on her sails; but for
Billy's perturbation | could not account
so turn'd an inquiring glance to him.
'Suthin' i the wind out yonder" was
his answer. whats sloop doing on
that ratch SO close in by the point There
She goes again'-as the little vessel
swung off point or two further from
the breeze. that was breathing softly up
camel. lime TO sup idus ApA tit b'tA
Of us he broke off shortly
Indeed, | was faint with hunger by
this time. yet had no stomach to eat
thus close to the dead So turning into
gate on our left hand, we eroSs'd two
or three fields, and sat down to sup on
Billy's biscuits, the mare standing quiet
~ beside us. and cropping the short
grass.
The field where We nos found our
selves ran out along the Top of a small
promontory. and ended at the cliffs e,lge.
As | sat looking southwark, l could only
observe the sloop 10y turning my head;
hut Billy. who squatted over against me,
hardly took his eyes off her. and between
this and his meal was too busy IL speak
word. l stretch'd myself out and
found it very pleasant to lie still; nor.
when Billy stood up and sauntered OF
toward the far end Of the headland' did
stir more than - turn my head and
lazily watch him.
He was gone half an hour at the least.
and the sky by this time was so dark
that | had lost sight of him, when, ris-
ing On my elbow to look around, | noted
curious red glow at point where the
turf broke off. not three hundred yards
behind me- and thin smoke curling up
in it. rs it seemd. from the very face
Of the cliff below In minute or SO the
smoke ceased almost; but the shine
against the sky continued steady. tho not
. very strong Billy has lit fire |
guessed aud was preparing to 20 and
look. when | spied a black form crawling
toward me. and presently saw twas Billy
himself. Coming close he halted put a
finger to his lip and beckoned. then be
gan to lead the way back as he had
come.
t, Thought |. these are queer doings;
but left Molly to browse, and crept after
him on hands and knees. He turn'd his
head once to make sure l was following.
and then scrambled on quicker, but soft
tly, toward the point where the red glow
: W. shining.
Once more he pull'd up, and after con-
sidering for a second. began to me-
again: only now he worked little to the
, right And soon ! saw the intention Of
. This: for Just here the cliffs lip was cleft
= by Il tSsure that ran back into the field
] and >helved out gently at the top, 50 that
man might easily scramble some way
] down IT, And twas from this assure
tb - he glow came.
40. the right lip of this Billy lei me.
sEnting it by a coupe Of yards. and
, wrigcling like a blind worm. Crawling
closer now. | stopp'i beside him and
strove 10 quiet the violence Of my breath
ing. Theu. after a minutes pause. H.
gether We pulled ourselves 10 the e,
? and peer'd over.
The descent Of the gully was broken,
r some eight feet below Ms by a small
ledge. sIoping outward about six feet.
and sereen'd by branches of the wild tam
arisk. At rhe back. in an angle of the
solid rock, was now set pan pierced
with holes. and full Of brrning charcoal;
and over this a man il the rebels uni
form was STOPPING.
He had a small paper parcel in his left
hail and was blowing at the charcoal
with all his might Holding my breath
heard him clearly. but could see moth
ing Of his face. for his back was toward
us, all sable against the glow. The char
coal fumes as they rose chok'd me so that
was very near fit Of coughing, when
Billy Laird one hand on my shoulder. and
with the other pointed ont TO seward
Looking that way. | saw small light
shining on the sea. pretty close in. Twas
I
concluded on the instant; and now | be
gan to have an inklng Of what was to-
ward.
But looking down again at the man
with the charcoal pan | saw a black head
OF hair lifted. and then Il pair Of red
puff'd cheeks, and pimpled nose with q
scar across the bridge Of it--all shining
in the glare Of the pan.
" It's that bloody villain. Luke Settle
| caaped.
AMI sprinSing to my feet, | took
jump over the edge and came springing
on top of him. The scoundrel was stoop-
ing with his uos,. close to the pa lit
with thnd on his shoulders. Hat reuing
him on the ledge and nearly sending
his face on top of the live coal. Twas
SO sudden that before he could so much
as think. my fingers were about his wind
pipe, and the both Of us struggling Hat on
the bring Of the precipice.
Just as lac had almost twisted his neck
free | heard stone or two break away
above Us, and down came Billy Pottery
flying atop Of Us, and pinned us to the
ledge
Twas short work now. Within a min
ute. Captain Luke Settle was turned On
his back his eyes fairly starting with
BilIy's clutch on his throat his mouth
wide open and gaspng; till | slipp'd the
nozzle Of my pistol between his teeth;
and with that he had no more chance. but
j.. ! gave in and ifl-a a lon,f, Submitted "a