The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-12-09
Copyright BY A. &. AcClurg I Co.
kntered q eea1loacg'o Hall London,
8TRATIoNs BY
ARTHUR b WILLIAMSON

Uttered = eta1ioacg's Hall Loodo0
ioot!" questioned the Sergeant, anx-
iously.
Certainly; and I desire you to re-
member one important thing: let me-
DO the talking. but If any of you are
asked questions, we are deserters from
Hills corps. tired of the war"
i, "Mein Gott!" muttered the German!
disconsolately. II hope 1t vos not long
on. Captain; I am no good on foot in.
der dark. by Chiminy."
"You had better manage to keep uu
tonight. unless you are seeking I'd
commit suicide. Now, men, mark me-
carefully! Load your carbines. Are
you all ready? Sergeant, see that each
man has his gun properly charged and
capped. You are to carry your arms
as thoroughly concealed as possible:
keep close to me always; obey my or.
ders instantly, and to the letter. We
are but twenty men pitted against
over two hundred, remember, and
when we strike, 1t must be both quick
and hard"
I mounted the mule, counted the
dim figures in the darkness, and then
gave the order to march. As va
moved slowly down the hill I was
aware that Cation walked upon one
side OF me, while Bungay plodded
along upon the other; but my mind
was so filled with the excitement OF
our adventure and all that depended
upon its successful elimination, al
scarcely to realize anything other than
the part must personally play. Good
fortune and audacity alone could com.
bine to win the game we were now en-.
gagged upon.
A tall heavily beared mountaineer
stood squarely in the middle of the
road to the north of the picket-fire.
l could make out but little of him as
the light shone, excepting that he
wore high coonskin cap and bore q
long rifle.
"Stop right tharl" he called out
hoarsely, upon hearing US. who are
you uns?"
AS he challenged, a dozen others
sprang up from about the flame and,
gums In hand, came toward US ON q
run.
I'VE uns are doggoned tired O. SOL
dierin', an gittin' nuthin' fer It," I
said In the slow Southern drawl, IAN
wanter jine yer gang. pervidin' thar's
any show fer it,
How many are YET" asked one of
the newcomers, striding forward be-
tween US and the sentry.
"A right smart heap O. bunch; bin
pickin' O 'em up ever since we left
Charlotte" I returned evasively.
"They be handles ter fight. an I
reckon as how ye kin use 'em, can't,
ye?"
Maybe; who did ye want ter seer"
wal. they sed as how Teller
named Lowrie wus a runnin' this yere
gang, an If thet's Their way O. 1t,
reckon as how it's Lowrie we're after.
Be you Lowrie?"
Nav"
The answer was 30 gruff and short,
and the fellow hesitated so long in
adding anything to 1t, I began to think
It was all off.
"Wal," he consented to say at last.
ungraciously, thar's blame pile OF
re kim in lately, an calculate we got
bout 'nough fer our business, but I
reckon as how Red will use ye some
whar. Anyhow you uns kin come
long with me an find out, but yell
Eiskiver him bout Their ornerest man
Ec+ pow ouor vo WIN nm oooip Ho,o
plum mad. Red is, fer sartain."
He turned and strobe of, without 80
much as giving us backward glance,
Ind, with hearty congratulatory kick
20 the mule, and my company fol-
lowed him. A hundred yards further
IN we passed through the fringe OF
trees and emerged into an open space
from whence we could see plainly the
great white house still illumined by
The flames which continued to con-
sumo the stables. Shots were flash
ing like frefies out of the darkness
IN every side Of us, the smell of burn
ing powder scented the air, and l
eould distinguish the black forms OF
men lying prone on the grass in some
hing resembling q skirmish line.
MAXIM fight O. 1t. amt they?" I
lsked of our taciturn guide, as we
picked our way carefully among the
'ecumbent forms.
Damn 'em, yes, hell O a fight"
he admitted bitterly.
Just beyond musket-shot from the
house, and nearly opposite the front
entrance, quite group Of men were
standing beneath the black shadows of
grove of trees. In spite of the CLEAN
from the fire could make little OF
them, but as we approached from the
direction of the rear, one OF them e1-
claimed suddenly: ..
who comes thar? What body o
men IL thet?"
tits mother party O deserters. as
wants ter jine u.s." said the guide.
sourly. "They's Johnnies from Lees
army"
ooh +h>v dow dav fhev9 Who's