Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-28

rae. an l amt Their only one done up,
neither. Jist take a sauint ct tibet fat
Dutchman thar"
The fleshy sergeant was undoubtedly fa-
tigued, yet he was a thorough soldier, a
strict disciplinarian. and although he
moved as if his coarse army trousers were
constant torture. he was not guilty OF
emitting any known requirement of his
Office.
.'Chones,'' he shouted impressiveIy dot
is not good way to tie dot horse. BY
Chiminy, he would break his neck NIT der
rope. Glen. Wy you makes play nit der
gun dot way? Donnerwetteri ven 1 speak
NIT you. stand OPP NIT der little finger to
der seam of der pantaloons You viii never
be good
"Ebers,'' 1 interrupted. 'let the men rest
as they please. l regret having ridden so
hard. but L am used to soldiers who are
toughened in field work. Are you pretty
sore. sergeant"
by Chiminy, l am, captain: der skin
vos rubbed off me by der saddle" he an
swered touching the afflicted part tender-
ly. 1T vos der rackin' gait NIT der horse
vot did it. He is der worst horse dot ever
l ride
Well get as comfortable you can.
and I'll try to be more thoughtful in the
future. Bungay, what has become OF
Maria?
The little mans eyes suddenly filled with
tears.
81 jist don't know. Cap" he answered,
mournfully.
And sun myself in Ellen.s eyes
That life is lost to love and me-
Whin 1 got hum Their oil cabin he'd bin
plum burnt down. nary stick o. 1T left, by
gum! an Marian she wus clean gone.
Haint seed neither hide ner hair o. her
since, thets fac An l sorter drifted
back ter you uns cause I didn't hev no.
whar else ter GO
Did you hunt for her among the old
plantations along the valley?" / asked,
deeply touched by his evident feeling.
She very likely sought refuge in some of
those houses"
He looked at me in surprise. Il reckon,
Cap, as how We don't know much bout
whut's a-goin' on in Their valley fer Their
las few months he said. soberly, rubbing
down his mule as he spoke. Tell We whut.
thar jst haint no plantation houses left
thar now, thets fac, leastwise not north
o Their lines We uns sorter hop onto yit.
Sheridan he played h--ll with his cavalry
raids, an whut the blue-bellies left Their
burned guerrillas an bushwhackers wiped
up es clean es a slate. Durn If crow
wudnt starve ter death in Their valley now.
Why, Cap. them thar deserters an sfch
truck Is organized now till they're mighty
nigh an army, an they don't skeer fer
nuthin' les ner a regiment l see mere
ner a hundred an fifty in one bunch up
on Their White Briar two week ago, an
they're worse ner parcel er pirates. 7
reckon as how they got Marian but I'll bet
she Civ 'em hot oil time afore she done
quit
Rumors of this state of affairs to north
ready reached me-indeed. the verifcation
had formed part of my Instructions; but
Bungay's homely yet graphic description
made the situation appear terribly real.
and my thought went instantly forth to
those l knew who might even then be ex-
posed to this great and unexpected danger.
That It was indeed menacing and constant
ly growing worse / could not doubt; the
certainty of our early defeat was leading
to almost wholesale assertions. and doubt
less many of these went to swell those
lawless ranks, whose sole purpose was
plumber, and whose safe rendezvous was
the inaccessible mountains. Wherever the
guarding armies left neutral ground, there
these bands overlooked and ipaugurated a
reign of terror. What they had been in
their weakness 1 knew well through expe-
riences of the past; what they might be.
come in strength l could readily conject-
ure-wild wolves of the hills, to whom hue
man life was of account, the fierce
spawn of civil war. The very conception
of Edith Brennan in such hands as these
was agony. 1 felt could never rest until
assured of her safety. and since my orders
granted me full authority to prolong my
Journey / might ascertain whether or not
she yet remained within the valley
Jed" / asked, my mind finally settled:
do you know the old Minor plantationf'
"Op ledge Minors place? Sure; it's up
on Their south branch of Their Cowskin, an
used ter be quite shebang afore ther
war, an afore Their oil ledge died. reck-
on as how he he'd Their biggest gang o mig
gers in Their whole county, an he wus
alters durn gud ter 'em tew: Never no n,g-
ger ever run way from oil Jedge Miner,
We bet. Marian she used ter 1--we thar WIN
Mis- Celie wuS a baby
Have those fellows got down that far
YETI ,,.o o.,
sure. Can. The whole valley is mighty bare
north o. thar, fer / rid through it, an
Beelzebub he'd to live on cay, Ter sure.
Gee, but he wus hot. So them thar Vuitures
hes got ter either work south er quit. an.
I reckon as how they hain't likely ter quit
TIL they hes tew. Sides, they're strong
'noueh by now ter laugh ct any soJers
thar bouts, an Their OF Minor pace uu
make mighty gud pickin' Thar haint
neither army ever bin up thar durin' ther
war;"
How long would it take us to reach
there?"
"Bout two days, 1 reckon, pervidin'L ye
shuck Their Dutchman.
1 turned and looked at my men In some
perplexity. They were scattered along me
edge of the road and only one group had
taken. the precaution to build a fire. inc
sergeant lay fiat upon his back on grassy
knoll his stomach rising and falling WIN a
regularity which convinced me he was
sleeping.
"Ebers" 1 said sternly.
There was no response. and could dis
tinguish clearly his heavy breathing,
Zone of you stir up the sergeant, Will your
l want to speak with him.
young fellow came forward, grinnlng.
and laid one hand heavily on his officers
shoulder. -,
miliarity get up!
The sergeant shot to an upright position
like a jack-in-the-box. ''Mein Colt. he
asked anxiousy, "is it der Yanks vot come
already"
H no; but the captain wants you.
Der captain?" He arose ponderously,
and came forward with decidedly hating
gait.
''Vos l sent for?" he asked
yes" said: II want you to have the
men get their supper at once. as we shall
be obliged to ride good portion of the
night"
'Ride" and his face took on an express
sion of a genuine horror. by Ginning, cap
tain it vos impossible. Mein Colt, il could
not be DONE"
why, what is the difficulty, sergeant?'
81 am wounded ware l sets me down on
der saddle l am all-yot you calls it?-
rare Dunder but it could not be-
II am exceedingly sorry, Ebers. and IL you
are unable to travel we shall be compelled
to leave you behind l said tired of 1t all
by this time Get the men to their supper.
We shall go on in an hour"
How often since have 1 smiled at the exc
preston upon his solemn round face as he
turned ruefuliy away!
Go be continued Monday