The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1911-12-02

twas, OF reckon Id Il walked over
b.ih IN tbeT dark"
!iad y" better I'd" h;rn down /
aSheh. thinking oni! ho~ rapidly the
hisht hours Mere specdins and OF the
importance OF the duty pressing upon
US.
Not with Their woman. sir" L. all.
SNF'e" IN low. reprJachtul voice
i'csldcs We never could Kit through
WITHOUT shot. an i! BY any dein luck
should turn out TO be a cavalry out.
toat-an' sorter reckon that's what
ls--"hy. our horses are In 40 shape
Ter q hard run. You uns better wait
here. sir. an let me tend ter that soger
man quiet like, an then praps We uns
kih all Slip by without stirrin' up
Their patrol"
Well. said. reluctantly, Yield
Ing 10 what | felt was doubtless the
wiser course. and mechanically grasp
ing the rein he held out 10 ne, go
ahead. But be careful, and don't
waste any time. If we hear the sound
Q shot We shall ride forward under
spur.
All right. sir, but there1l be no
fuss, fer know Just whar Their teller
| is"
| Time seems criminally long when
one is compelled to wait in helpless
uncertainty. every nerve on strain.
| Hold yourself ready for sudden
start said. warningly to my com.
| panlon. IF there is any noise OF a
struggle yonder shall drive in the
| spurs.'
AS SPOKE swung the sergeants
horse around to my side. where l
could control him more readily
There was no reply from the wCn-
an. but | noticed she endeavored to
draw together the Tapping cape OF
her cloak. as though she felt chilled
by the wind and her figure seemed to
stiffen In the saddle
1t came at last-not the sharp fash
OF a musket cleaving the night IN
twain. but merely the tall figure OF
the sergeant. stealing silently out OF
the gloom like a black ghost. and
standing at our very horses heads.
"All clear sir be reported In
matter-of-fact tone. but we shall
hev ter move mighty quiet. fer Their
main picket post amt more nor a
hundred yards ter the right O. Their
crossin'"
He did not remount. but. with reins
flung loosely over his arm. led the
way slowly forward. and carefully We
followed him
What had become of the sentinel |
did not know, respecting Craigs evil
cent desire for 81 eHce, but as We
drew nearer the White Briar road |
sought in vain to pierce the dense
gloom and note some sign OF strug-
gle. some darker shadow where a
body might Re lying. There was moth
ing visible to tell the story.
The sergeant walked without the
least hesitation across the open space.
directly into the deep shadows oppo-
site. where the crOss-road continued
TO hold way Crouching low in the
saddle, we followed him as silently
as though We were but spirits OF the
night. Up the road ! caught the red
g.eam of fire almost spent. and a
black figure crossed US. casting an odd
shadow against the face OF the rock
where it was lighted by the Pickering
red blaze. 1t was all over In a mo-
ment. mere glimpse. but 1t formed
one of those sudden pictures which
paint themselves on the brain and
can never after be effaced. ! recall
yet the long shade cast by the mans
gun, the grotesque shape of his flap
ping army overcoat. the quick change |
in the silhouette as he wheeled to re-
trace his beat But there was no
noise. no. even the sound of his foot
steps, reaching us. Even as | gazed, |
lying open at full length upon my |
horse. we had crossed the open, and a
perfect tangle of low bushes hid us
as completely as If we had entered the
yawning mouth of cavern.
A hundred yards or more Of sharply |
curving road denseiy lined with shrub
berry on either band. and then Craig |
spur TO his horse.
We must ride for 1t now" he said. |
terseiy when thet patrol makes |
their round them felIers will be alter |
US hot"
urged my tired horse to gai!op, |
messing UPON Craig's hee's as closely |
as | dared; nor did 6 ance back. tor |
knew well that dead picket vas |
lying somewhere by The crossroads. |