The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-09-08
the rays Of the EeGteFing sun gleam
ing on his gray hair. d, ,.ds;uE lab
CHAPTER 10.
The RIaht Ride. az

me FNlnltG'' tAl00s. f-t-sa
BY 1--WE O'Clock we were sHfeiGt Col
chester. and while our horses rested
and refreshed themselves on some
conhscated grain, the tWo'4of- Rlg; lay
laziIy back on grassy: knoll ven
within the shadow of ruined wall.
and watched tho round, red sun drop
slowly down behind those western
hills we had to climb.
AS early as we deemed 1t safe to
venture, we were again in saddle
riding now straight to the westward,
along the smooth-beaten pike, until
we caught sight Of the black shadow
OF Cotton church, In our front; then
we swerved to the left, and stfll NOV
ing rapidly but with considerable care
for the horses, headed directly across
the more broken country toward the
foothills It proved to be hard, toll
some climb up those long, steep
slopes rising before US; for We were
extremely careful now to keep wen
away from every known route OF
travel, and our horses, although So
lected from among the best mounts OF
the cavalry brigade, had already been
thoroughly winded by their smart trot
up the valley.
An hour Of this work passed
Whether or not We were yet within
the enemy'B lines was largely con1ec-
turc. for no human eye could pierce
the enveloping gloom, and no sound.
either Of warning or encouragement,
reached us as we strained our ears
The sergeant rode slightly IN advance
as we toiled up the higher terrace.
Tor our sole dependence as to diFec-
ton and distance was upon his mem
DRY, and even that could scarcely
serve for much ON such a-night as
this. traced his passage upward as
best I might, and pressed close after
him, guided not SO much by sight as
by sound-the occasional rolling OF a
loosened stone, the rustling OF leaves
as he touched a bush in passage, the
faint cIinkinE OF his sabre. and the
heavy breathing of his horse-untl at
last his long, slender figure rose sut-
ficientiy above the dark hill surface
to be family siIhouetted In deeper
shadow against the dim reflection OF
the upper sky. Almost coincidentIy
with this my horse ranged up beside
his, where he had drawn rein in owl
dent perplexity.
what is 1t, DAM" questioned eau
tiously; for all could feel reasonably
assured of Just then was that behind
any Took LEG0 Jul AACAS
might be crouchIng Federal picket.
IT'S nothin', Cap" he answered
quietly, turning his face toward me as
he spoke. "Prn just tryin' ter mem
her some landmark yersabout- ter
guide from. Blamed II ever z seefB such
3 dark night; it's like bein' inside q
pocket, sir, an I reckon as how It
must be nigh onter ten year since
run loose in this Yers country -
kid. Tibet thar cutoff we took q while
back has sort o. confused me; that's
a fac, and ! don't Just know Wh1a4r
am; but reckon as how the NAN
ridge road we're a huntin' after ought
or run somewhar out yonder he
pointed forward Into the night.
very we'll; hand me your rein, ana
see what you can discover out there
on foot. Sitting here isn't apt TO
mend matters, and we surely cannot
AFFORD to cripple our horses among
those rocks
The sergeant, a gaunt. tireless
nountaineer, slipped silently from his
saddle. swung his light cavalry car
bine from his back TO the hoIIow OF
his arm, and IN another moment was
lost to sight In the darkness. A snake
could not have slipped away more
stealthily. heard a stone rattle I'M
der his foot, half-suppHessed oath.
and then the night had completely
7WalloWed him.