Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-02

she returned quietly. so you see we hao
| covered scarcely more than three miles
when we met. How much farther is it tc
| where Major Brennan Is stationed?'
| l fear 1 was guilty of hesitancy, but II
was only for a moment.
| Il am unable to tell exactly for as II
| chances, l have never yet been in the
camp, but I should Judge that two hours
riding will cover the distance"
| Why" in a. tone of sudden surprise
| Captain Hale certainly told me it was
| all of twenty milesv'
From Bear creek?" I questioned eager
~, FOR 1t was my turn to feel startled
| now The map barely makes it ten"
1t is but ten, and scarcely that by the
direct White Briar road, or, at least so
heard some of the younger officers say; but
! 1t seems the rebel pickets are posted so
crosse 10 the White Briar that my friends
decided it would be unsafe to proceed that
way
rms was news indeed-news SO unexpect-
ed and startling that I forgot all caution.
linen what road do they call this?''
She laughed at my evident ignorance as
well as the eagerness of my tone
Really, you are most peculiar guide"
she exclaimed gayly. You almost convince
of my vast knowledge of this mysterious
region, am able to enlighten you to some
extent. We are now riding due southwark
along the Allentown pike"
SAaig leaned forward so as to look
across her horses neck to where l rode on
the opposite side.
May l speak a word, sir?" he asked,
cautiously.
Certainly sergeant: do Won uoaLa apv
thing out of all this?"
Yes, sir," he answered, eagerly II know
now exactly how we missed it and where
we are. The cutoff to the White Briar I
spoke to you about this afternoon cannot be
more than hundred yards below here"
hide ahead carefully, then, and see if
you can locate it. Be cautious; there may
De picket stationed there. We will halt
where we are until you return"
he swung forward his carbine where It
would be handy for instant service and
trotted ahead into the darkness. The wo-
man morse, being comparatively fresh
ana restless, danced a little in an effort to
follow, but l restrained him with a light
hand on the bit. and for moment we
sat waiting in silence. Then her natural
curiosity prompted a question
Why is it you seem so anxious to dis
cover this cut-off?'
I'VE merely desire to take advantage of
the more direct road" / replied somewhat
shortly Besides. we are much farther
10 the east than had supposed, and there
fore too close to the lines of the enemy"
How strange 1t is you should not have
KNOWN she exclaimed in voice of in
dlgnant wonder; but l made no reply she
did not venture to speak again.
My thoughts at that moment indeed,
were not with her, although L kept firm
hold upon her rein. 1 was eager to be
off, to make up by hard riding the tedi-
Gus delay of this nights work, and con-
stantly listening in dread for some sounds
of struggle down the roadway. But all re-
manned silent until 1 could dimly distin-
guish the returning hoof-beats of the ser
geant's horse; and anxious was l to
economize time that l was already urging
our mounts forward when his shadow grew
black in front, and he wheeled in at my
side.
mo picket there, SIR
Very well, sergeant; when we come to
the turn you are to ride a few rods in adj
vance of us, and Will set a good pace, for
now we must make UP for all this lost
time"
I caught the motion of his hand as it
was lifted in salute.
Very well, sir; here is the turn-to your
right"
l could dimiy distinguish the opening
designated and as we wheeled into it he
at once clapped spurs to his horse and
forged ahead In another moment he had
totally disappeared, and as 1 urged our
reluctant mounts to more rapid speed all
sound of his progress was instantly lost in
the pounding of own hoofs on the
hard road.
1t was like riding directly against black
wall, and far from comforting to the
nerves, for the path was strange one, and
not too we'll made Fortunately the horses
an occasional awkward stumble amid loose
stones, while the high walls of rock on
either hand made somewhat denser shad-
ow where they shut off the lower stars, and
thus helped me to guide our progress.
But it was no time for conversation, even
had the inclination been mine, for every
nerve was now strained to intensity as 1
spurred on my horse and held tightly to the
bride of the other, almost cursing, as l
rode the unlucky chance which brought US
such burden on a night like this.
Go be continued tomorrow