The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-04-06

- hs'hiNuNs NNA W. "fNN NNurNfu hANh .
another. and the chant rose again. We
were graphing. hand TO hand. In the
midst Of their files.
Taking breath. saw the enemy melt
Ing of the summit like a mans breath
on n pane. Aud Sir Bcvill caught my
hand and pointed across 20 where. on the
north side. a white standard embroidered
with gold grifiins was mounting.
IT'S dear Nick Slanning!" he cried;
God be praiscd-the day 10 ours for
certain
The rest OF the signal victory Gin which
LOO prisoners were taken. besides the
Major General Chudleigh: aud all the
rebels camp. cannon and victuals) /
leave historians 10 tell. For very soon
after the rout was assured (the plain
below full of men screaming and run.
ming. and Colonel John Digby's dragons
after them, chasing. cutting and killing.
a wet muzzle was thrust into my hand.
and turning. I found Molly behind me.
with the groom to whom had given her
In the morning. The rogue had counted
on a crown for his readiness.
l determine 20 see the end Of II. and
paying the fellow. clImb'd into the saddle.
munching at bistcuit he had found In
the rebels camp.
We turned into a lane. which gradu-
ally led us TO westward. out OF the main
line of the rout, and past a hamlet. where
every door was shut and all silent. And
NJ last q slice OF the sea fronted US.
between two stccply shelving hills. On
the crest OF the road. before IL plunged
down toward the coast, was n wagon ~
ing against the hedge. with the horses
gene: and beside IL, strctch'd across the
road. an old woman. Stopping. we found
her dead. with sword.thrnst through
the left breast; and inside the wagon
young man lying. with his jaw bound M
dead also. And how this sad spectacle
happen'd here. 50 far from the battle
field, was more than we could guess.
I was moving away. when Billy, that
was kneeling In the road. chaaced to east
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 n small
sloop moving under shortcn'd canvas.
about two miles from the land. She made
a pleasant sight. with the last rays OF
HtI uuA
Biily's perturbation could not account,
so turn'd an inquiring glance 20 him.
''Suthin' i the wind out yonder," was
his answer. whats a sloop doing on
that ratch so close in by the point. There
she goes again"-as the little vessel
swung OF a point or two further from
the breeze. that was breathing softly up
camel. Time TO sup. lad. for the both
OF u.s." he broke of shortly.
Indeed, was faint with hunger by
this time. yet had no stomach to eat
thus close 10 the dead. So turning into
gate on our left hand. we cross'd two
or three fields, and sat down to sup of
Billy's biscuits. the mare standing quiet.
ly beside us, and cropping the short
grass.
The field where we now found our
selves ran out along the top Of n small
promontory. and ended nj the cliffs edge.
As sat looking southwark. could only
observe the sloop by turning my head;
but Billy. who sauattcd over against me.
hardly took his eyes of her. and between
this and his meal was too busy 10 speak
word. ! stretch'd myself out, and
found IL very pleasant 10 lie still: nor,
when Billy stood up and sauntcrcd of
toward the far end OF the hcadland. did
stir moro than 10 turn my head and
lazily watch him.
He was gone half an hour nt 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 of. not three hundred yards
behind me. aud n thin smoke curling up
In IL, as IL seem'd, from the very face
OF the cliif below. In n minute or so the
smoke ceased almost: hut the shine
against the sky continued steady. tho not
very strong. BILLY has liz n fire." |
guessed. and was preparing TO 10 and
look. when spied black form crawling
toward me. and presently saw twas Billy
himself. Coming close, he halted. put a
finger to his lip aud beckoned: then be.
gan to lead the way back as he had
come.
Thought l. "thcse are queer doings:"
but left Molly to browse, and crcrt after
him on hands and knees He turnd his
head once to make sure I was following.
and then scrambled on quicker. hut SOFT.
ly. toward the point where the rcd glow
was shining.
Once more he pulld up. and after con-
sidering for a second, began To move
again: only now he worked n little 10 the
right And soon | saw the intention OF
this: for just here the cliffs lip was cleft
By a assure that ran back into the field
and shclvcd out gently at the top. 30 that
man might easily scramble some way
down IL. And twas from this assure
that the glow came.
Along the right lip OF this Billy led me.
skirting IL by n couple OF yards, and
wriggling like a blind worm. Crawling
closer now. stopp'd beside him and
strove to quiet the violence OF my breath
Ing. Then. after q minutes pause. TO.
gcther we pulled ourselves 20 the edge.
and pcer'd over.
The descent OF the gully was broken.
some eight feet below us, by small
ledge. sloping outward about six feet,
and scrcen'd by branches Of the wild tam.
arisk. At the back, in an angle OF the
solid rock, was now set a pan pierced
with holes. and full OF burning charcoal:
and over this a man in the rebels uni
form was STOPPING.
lie had a small paper parcel in his left
hand. 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 chokd me 30 that
1 was very near a III OF coughing. when