Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-11-29

4
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 hats, making
on cline 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 unimpeded view of the east
ward, and saw the North Fork, the
Hedgman, like a silver thread.
That night the moon stood high to-
ward the zenith. By midnight it would
sink behind the Blue Ridge, and Ben
ton ordered forward" while the faint
light lasted, despite Hector's 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 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 a
cleared field and in view of scattered
shed or two. Then came double chal-
lenge. First the impudent snarl and
dash of a brace of back country mon
Srels; then the stern Halt thar! Dis
mount" of cavalry vedette, starting
from the shadow of clump of stunt
ed trees, not so 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 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. Inviting
ly they struck a Notwithstanding
path at an unseen fork, and there, as
no sound of pursuit reached them, Ben
ton babe 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 shambling in
to sight a 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 way!"
Then came a ride almost for life.
They turned into a lane leading away
halted to blow their painting, reek-
ing horses at little clump of trees
near southwark sweep of the mill
stream-BrOad Run-then 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 a slope
of the heights, barely three miles back
OF them, came a dozen gray horsemen.
They've seen u.s." 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 sight of union flank
ers nowi
A 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 a dashing
rider. Behind them, still beyond car
blne range but slowly gaining, full 90
troopers were spreading out over the
open fields, 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
and then they plunged through holes.
deep and treacherous, but still they
dashed ahead, Hector's poor brute
notwithstanding with every stride.
PRESENTLY the ground began slowly ris-
Ing and the woods grew thick. If only
they could reach them. Surely the
union pickets must be close at hand.
and now. as they drove in among the
ciumps OF stunted trees, they lost sight
OF the troopers to the south. Now the
yeils OF those in rear became exultant.
and still came no shot. Then. as thew
struggled through Doggy slough, with
slckening groan Hector's exhausted
morse went down and foundered help
less in the mud. his wretched rider