The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-10-19
CHAPTER XXX.
Tho cavalry Out post.

Tho Cavalry Outpost
I fingered merely long enough 70
feel assured as TO her safety, creep
ing closer until I heard her simple
story OF the Majors fall 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
/ was, first of all, a soldier, and notn-
ing short of death or capture should
prevent mo reaching Lee with my
message. Let what would happen, all
else could waitI
The CLEAN OF the stars fell upon the
double row of buttons down the
breast OF the coat wore. and !
stopped suddenly with an exclamation
OF disgust. Nothing could be gained
by longer masquerade, and felt In
expressible shame at being thus at
tired. Neither pass nor uniform
would suffice to get me safe through
those outer picket lines. and If should
fall in the attempt, or be again made
prisoner, vastly preferred meeting
my fate clad in the faded gray OF my
own regiment. With odd sense OF re-
lief hastily stripped OF the gorgeous
trappings, flung them in the ditch be-
side the road, and pressed on, feeling
like a new man.
There was small need for caution
here, and for more than an hour
tramped steadily along. never meeting
a person or being startled by a sus-
Dicious sound. Then, as rounded
low eminence l perceived before me
the dark outlines of trees which marked
the course OF the White Briar, while
directly in my front, and half OBJ
scured by thick leaves Of the under
brush, blazed the red glare OF fire.
l knew the stream we'll, its steep
banks OF percipitate rock, its rapid,
swirling current which, | was we'll
aware, l was not suflCIently expert
swimmer to cross. Once upon the
other bank 1 should be comparatively
safe, but to pass that picket post ana
attain the ford was certain to require
all the good fortune could ever hope
for.
But despair was never for long my
comrade. and had learned how de-
termination opens doors to the coura'
geous-it is ever he who tries that en-
tiers In. 1t took me ten minutes. pos
sibly, creeping much of the way like
wild animal over the ToCAs' Jul a.
the end OF that time had attained a
position we'll within the dense thicket,
and could observe clearly the ground
before me and some OF the obstacles
to be overcome.
AS supposed, it was cavalry out
post; could distinguish the crossed
sabers on the caps of the men. al
though 1t 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. a middle-aged
man with light-colored chin beard.
seated by himself against the wall OF
a small shanty Of logs, a pipe In his
mouth and an open book upon his
knee. His men were gathered close
about the blazing IRE, for the night
air was decidedly chill as it swept
down the valley; a number were
sleeping, few at cards, while little
group, sitting with their backs to-
ward me, yet almost within reach OF
my hand, were idly smoking and dis
cussings the floating rumors OF tht
cRmn.. Il managed to make out dtmlS