Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1905-07-13

shed or two. Then came double .chal-
lenge. First the impudent snarl and
dash of a brace of back country mon
gTels; then the stern "Halt thar Dis
mount" of a cavalry vedette, starting
from the shadow of a 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 IN 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. Unwilling
ly they struck a Notwithstanding
path at an unseen fork, and there, as
no sound OF pursuit reached them, Ben
ton bade 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 IN a re-
monstrant mule. run, Marse!" he
cried, at sight of Benton, Run, fo'
Gawd's sake! tDey'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
southeastward between desolate fields;
halted TO blow tlieir painting, reek-
ing horses at a little clump Of trees
near o southwark sweep of the mill
stream--Broad Run-then Benton un-
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 seer 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 a sight Of union flank
5ers now!
"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, 3 were only half a mile
ahead, but southwark, cutting them on
from Bristoe, galloped a jaunty half
dozen, following the lead of a dashing
rider. Behind them. still beyond car
bine range but slowly gaining, full 20
troopers were spreading out over the
open fields, turning" them, as 1t were,
from the left. The soil was growing
loose and soft and spongy now that
they had left the lanes, ami every now
and then they plunged through holes,
deep ana treacherous, but still they
dashed ahead, Eector's poor brute
groaning staggering with every stride.