The Irish standard., 1911-12-02

mental condition I was amused at his
unique style Of riding, although l
would not wound him by laughing.
Il say. Cap" he said, jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot and
grasping his saddle pommel desper.
ately. Il sorter reckon as how therll
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fall
ST. "Why?" 1 stared at him, now thor.
oughly aroused to the thought that
he had important news to communi.
cate.
WAL" he explained slowly. "whin
ye whit of, sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout bit. Used ter be an OIL
stompin' ground O. mine. So Dutchy
an me clumb thet big hill back O.
whar we halted. and by gum, down
thar In Their gully on { other side
thar's burned big camp O fellers.'
refined up short, and with uplifted
hand signalled the men behind to
halt.
why didn't you tell me this be.
fore?" I questioned sternly How
many were there? and what did they
look like2"
He scratched the back Of his head
thoughtfully, and answered with care
full deliberation. "Durn it, 1 didn't
!ine ye till after I'd started, an
reckon as how 1t took me all O. tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar I oud talk. Thar's quite a
smart bunch. but they had some pick.
cts out, an cudn't git close 'nough
ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar
wus nigh onter two hundred O. 'em,
but / jist don't know. They wusn't
dressed like sojers O. either army, an
reckon they're out O. Their hills"
l glanced at my little handful OF
men, scarcely knowing what decision
1t might be wise to make. Undoubt.
edly they would fight If occasion
arose, but the odds were terribly
heavy; besides, II Brennan came, and
his party got away that same even
Ing, as was planned for them to do,
then 1t might not be necessary for us
to strike blow. l was certainly in
no mood to expose my small command
merely to save the empty house from
destruction.
"Ebers," said. turning toward the
Sergeant, who sat his horse with OK
pressionless face, "you were with the
guide when he discovered this camp.
How many do you think 1t contained?
and who were they?"
vel. dere vos more as two gom.
panies, Captain, und dere vos some
horses, but dey vos dressed-vot you
calls it?-all ober not ner samo"
mot in uniform?"
dot vos It."
Have any Of the rest Of you seen
anything that looked suspicious?" l
asked, glancing around into the diff
terent faces.
Maybe did," answered one of the
troopers named Earl. "As we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up a stone, and had
to stop and get 1t out reckon fell
behind a quarter of mile or more,
and just as I started l looked back,
and a party Of ten or twelve fellows
was just riding In through them big
gates onto the front lawn. But them
fellows was soldiers for sure; they
rode regular like, and all of them
wore caps. 1t was so far of couldn't
tell the color Of their clothes, but
them caps made mo think they was
Feds"
l chose my course at once. This I'M
doubtedly must have been Brennans
party.
THANK you, my man: 1t would have
been better If you had reported that
to me at once" said. However,
understand the situation much better
now. Sergeant, we will go into camp
here. Post pickets in both directions,
but put your most careful men on
that hill yonder. Let them report
promptly any signs of fire to tho
southeast, or any sound of guns"
We completed all our cooking be-
lore dark, and when the night finally
closed down about us 1t proved to be
an exceedingly black one, although
the skies were clear. Sleep was an
Lmpossibility for mo, AZ my mind was
In constant turmoil.
Ebers was lying next me upon the
grass, solemnly putting at his huge
i r. $:*f3nA. & 1S2MBj r.