Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-10-25

grim play with Fate. where the stakes
were life and death. I felt my pulses
throb as rode steadily forward. fair
ly thrusfing the darkness aside. my
teeth hard set. my left hand heavily
on . revolver butt
How. IA such a situation. the nerves
Jingle and the heart bounds to each
strange sight and soundl Haiti
what was that? PoohI no more than
the deeper shadow OF a sharply pro
jecting rock. around which we pick
careful way. our horses erowdiug
against each other in the narrow
space. And that7 Nothing but the
faint moan OF the night wind amid
the dead limbs OF q tree. All mark
that sudden Hash OF light! The hand
that closes iron-like upon the loosened
rein opens again. for It was merely a
star silently falling from out the
blact depths of the sky Then both
or us halt at once. and peer anxicusiy
forward. The figure standing direct
ly In the center OF our path. can It be
a sentry at last? A cautious step for
ward. low laugh from the sergeant.
and we circle the gaunt. blackened
stump. as silent ourselves as the
night about US. but with fiercely beat
ing, expectant hearts.
But bark! Surely that was no com
mon sound, born OF that drear loneli-
ness! No cavalryman can mistake the
Jingle OF accoutrements or the dull
thud OF horses's hoofs. The road here
must have curved sharply. for they
were already so close upon US that.
almost simultaneously with the sound,
we could distinguish the deeper
shadow of a small compact hcdy OF
horsemen directly in our front To
left Of US there rose. sheer and black.
the preripitous rock; TO right we might
not even guess what yawnlng void.
II was either wit Of sword play now.
know not how Il may be with others
in such emergencies. but with me II
always happens that the sense OF fear
departs with the presence OF actual
danger. Before the grewsome tancIes
OF imagination may quake and burn
like any maiden alone upon a city
street at night, until each separate
nerve becomes a very demon Of men.
tai agony; but when the real and
known once fairly confronts me. and
there is work to do. grow instantly
cool TO think. resolute TO act. and md
rare Joy In II. II was so new, and,
revolver In hand but hidden beneath
any holster iap. leaned over and
touched Craig's arm.
Keep quiet" whispered sternly.
Let them challenge first and nc
firing except on my order"
Almost with the words there came
the sharp hail:
Halt! Who comes thereY''
drew the cape OF my riding jacket
closer, so as better TO muffie the
sound Of my voice.
Friends, OF course: who would you
expect TO meet on this road'"
Fortune seemed with me in the
chance answer. for he who had hailed
exclaimed:
"oh! is that you. Brennan2"
There was no time now for hest
fancy: here was my cue. and ! must
plunge ahead. accepting the chances.
| ventured It.
mo; Brennan couldn't come | am
here In his place
"Indeedl Who are your"
major Wllke."
There was moments painful
pause. In which could hear my
heart throb.
"Wilkie," repeated tho voice. doubt
fully. There is no officer OF that
name In the Forty-third."
well, there chances to be such an
officer on the stan." retorted. permit.
ting a trace OF anger to appear In my
tone. land am the man"
What the devil is the difference.
Hale. lust what his name isf" doomed
a deeper voice back in the group. I'VE
are not getting ny a directory OF the
Sixth corps. OF course he's the man
Brennan sent. and that is all we've
got to look after"
oh. all right. certainly. major" re-
turned the first speaker. hastily. but
the night is so cussed black ! sup
posed We must be at least a mile this
side OF where we were to meet. How
ever, we have the lady here for you.
all right. and she is anxious enough TO