Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-12-14
CHAPTER XIX.
Tho Cavalry Outpost.


Tho Cavalry Outpost.
! fingered merely long enough to
feel assured as to her safety, creep
ing closer until heard her simple
story Of the Majors fell from his
horse, and then watched through the
night shadows while the little squad
bore his unconscious form over the
crest Of the low hill toward their
quarters. Then / turned my face
eastward and tramped resolutely on.
I was. first of all, soldier, and moth
ing short Of death or capture should
prevent me reaching Lee with my
message. Let what would happen, all
olse could waltz
The gleam Of the stars fell upon the
double row Of buttons down the
breast Of the coat wore, and
leoppsd suddenly with an exclamation
T. disgust. Nothing could be gained
n longer masquerade, and felt In
expressible shame at being thus at
Tired. Neither pass nor uniform
you'd sufice to got me safe through
khpss outer picket lines. and II should
AL In the attempt, or be again made
prisoner, vastly preferred meeting
my fate clad In the faded gray OF my
eNp regiment. With odd sense Of re-
1T / hastily stripped OF the gorgeous
Mppings. flung them In the ditch BE-
ds the road, and presssd on. feeling
He : new man.
There was small need for caution
efe. and for more than an hour I
Efampsd steadily along. never meeting
Z psrson OF being startled By = sus-
Dlsloui sound. Then, - I rounded q
poW Gnninenos perceived before me
He dark outlinss Of trees which marked
The course Of the White Briar. while
directly In my front, and half OBJ
poursd BY thick leaves Of the under
brush, blazed the red glare Of . fire.
IL knew the stream well, Its steep
banks OF percipitate rock, Its rapid.
lswirling current which. was we'll
aware. was not sufficiently expert
lSwimmer to cross. Once upon the
other bank should DE comparatively
safe. but to pass that picket post and
attain the ford was certain to require
ali the good fortune could ever hope
Tor.
But despair was never for long my
,oomrade, and had learned how de-
Termination opens doors to the coura,
geous-it ID ever he who tries that en-.
tors In. It took me ten minutes, pos
~AH nj he
q wild animal over the rocks, but at
the end OF that time had attained q
position well within the dense thicket
and could observe clearly the ground
before me and some OF the obstacles
to be overcome.
AZ supposed, 1t was a cavalry out
post; I could distinguish the crossed
sabers on the caps Of the men, al
though it was some time before was
able to determine positively where
their horses were picketed. There
!, must have been all Of twenty in the
party, and could distinguish the Lieu
tenant in command, middle-agee
man with light-colored chin beard
seated by himself against the wall o
"a small shanty Of logs, pipe in hi
mouth and an open book upon hi
knee. His men were gathered clos
t, about the blazing fire. for the nigh
air was decidedly chill as it swep
y down the valley; a number wer'
}, sleeping, . few at cards. while littl'
il group, sitting with their backs to
UPWARD me. yet almost within reach Q
Nanny hand. were idly smoking and dis
Vl5cussing the floating rumors of tn
~ camp. managed to make out diml.
:, the figure Of q man on horseback be
aisyond the range Of flame. and appal
;e! emily upon the very bank of tn
Upstream, when some words spoken b
ooJan old gray-beared sergeant intereste
-3ms.
Bob" he said to the soldier lounl
Ing next him, 'whut wus 1t thet stai
pficer sed ter Their leftenant? didn
6ust git Their straight OF 1t.
The man, a debonair youg fellow
sstroked his little black mustaches RI
effectively.
1ol "Ther cove sed as how Coles d
4vle1on Wud be along mere aIOre od!
M3light, an thet our fellers wud likel
Etabe sent out ahead of EN-"
on .'Whar be they goin'?"
"The leftenant asked him, an tn
cove sed as 1t WIS gineral advanc
u meet OIL Hancock at Minersville
30 "Thet's good 'nough, lads" chime
the sergeant, shaping his knee. :"
Susll 1eans q dance down the valley ate
flokarly. I'm a guessin' we'll have
BeIang-up OIL fight fore three day
Sighore."
Bog "Pervidin' alters thet Their Johnnie
Lizhon't skedaddle fust," commented a
Ra,other, tartly. "Whut in thunder
her matter with them hosses?"
asked suddenly. rising and peerir
pver into the bushes beyond the hu
where a noise OF squealing and kic
ing had arisen.
.r: "Oh, the bay f1lly is probably ov
\. The rope agin." returned the Sc
geant, lazily. "Sit down, Sims, an
t0elasv, vo,,,rA mot on hOaa guard to