Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-01-10
CHAPTER xvII.-fcoptinued,

CHAPTER XVII.-(Continued.
Quayle was lying prone and motion
less on the ground, some FIVE or six PAGES
trom her. His hands were stretched out
TO their full length, and his face was
buried in the grass. Henri had slid into
q crouching position against the side OF
the hut, and he stared at her with CLASSY
eyes. She whispered:
Are you hurt badly?'
Ihere was no reply, but the eyes seem
ed to glare at her reproachfuliy. She
was about to rise, so as TO be able to
assure herself if help were possible for
the wounded man, when another line of
ngures came toward her out of the haze,
ana before she was aware of so near a
presence, Federal officer stood before
her.
What's this?' exclaimed the officer.
"A civilian wounded. and woman just
frightened to DEATH"
Helene looked up and rose. She knew
not what to say, nor what to do The
officer was a tall man. with a jovial,
square face, on every line of which
creamed good humor as rich as his
brogue.
Where's the rest Of yezY' the officer
w mere = LHe heDSL
don't know" replied Helene, tim
IDLY IF you mean where are the South
ern soldiers, there are none about here. >
None!' cried the freshman. "Shure,
an 1t isn't you two that have been kiekin'
up all this bother. Why, here's another
wan of thin, an he'll niyer fight no more.
Is it hghtin' among yerselyes we've
bcen?"
Helene knew not what to answer; but
the lrishman seemed Inclined to con-
tlnue the conversation by himself.
ok, an | know what We are. It's
a peck o rebel spies We are, the whole
hoilin' lot o yez, and it's hangin' yez
they'll be afther when they get yez into
camp
Indeed, am no spy" replied Helene.
Il came here with the hope of being able
to see dear friend in the United States
service, Captain Demon, of the United
States regulars
1e'll be tellin' that to the marines, or
to the gineral when you see him." retort-
Cd the officer, 'and Olive got no tonne to
DC wastin' OF it here wild yez. Here,
OIl take We back to the guard-house,
x can pitch yer tale to the provost mar
snail. He's nice man, he is. though he
isn't particularly soft hearted"
Helene felt amused rather than fright
ened when the Irishman. without further
ado, slipped his arm through hers and
led her away toward the creek They
were walking across the field which sep
arated them from the trees by the creek
side, when the firing, which had nearly
ceased, on a sudden burst out with a flu
riou5 rattle.
"Halloow exclaimed the Irishman.
An what's thisY He stopped and
turned
Volley after volley crashed out in the
wood, and at the same moment bullets
came singing toward them.
"Oi thought sol" exclaimed the Irish
man. IT'S in the woods they've been
hiding, these rebels of yours, and our
men have just reused them out"
The bullets Kissed by them more furi-
ously, and the edge of the forest grew
alive with flashes, and Helene could
zee the dim figures of the Federal skirm-
ishers running back, having evidently
come upon a stronger force of the in
closing Southern outposts.
While Helene looked on with a vague
sense of awe weighing on her disturbed
mind, she felt sting in her shoulder,
and putting up her hand, withdrew it the
next moment moist with blood. Then
she grew giddy, and her sight seemed to
fail her. At the same moment she stag
gered, and would have fallen to the
ground had not the officer caught her in
his arms.
Poor woman.' said the Irishman.
ITS her first foight, an she's wounded
already. Let me see! What was the
mans name she was lookin' afther? Cap
tain Demon. Well, had betther let Cap
tain Demon know about this"
lie took the limp figure in his arms as
if she had been child, totally needless
of the bullets that whirred about him.
He could not have been more careful or
gentle had Helene been his own daugh-
ter