Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-11-15
CHAPTER III.-continued.

The lady! Heavens! What odd
turn of fortunes wheel was this? The
lady. | heard Craig's smothered
chuckle, but before | had sufficiently
Tegained control over my own feel
angs to venture upon suitable reply.
the entire party had drawn forward,
the leader pressing so close to my side
that | felt safer with my face well
shaded.
Where is your escort, major?" he
asked, and the gruffness of his tone
put me instantly on defense.
Just behind u.s." / returned, with
affected carelessness, and determined
now to play out the game, lady or no
lady. I was extremely sorry for her,
but the cause outweighed her comfort
''The sergeant and l rode out ahead
when we heard you coming. Where
is the lady?"
He glanced around at the group
hUddled behind him.
Third on the left"
"All right, then. Nothing else,
BELIEVER" for was eager to get
away. Sergeant, just ride in there
and lead out her horse. We will have
to be moving, gentlemen, for it is a
rough road and a dark night"
"Beastly," assented the other, heart
sly.
/ fairly held my breath as Craig
rode forward. If one of them should
chace to strike a match to light a
pipe, or any false movement of Craig's
should excite suspicion! If he should
even speak, his soft southern drawl
would mean instant betrayal. And
how coolly he went at it; with a
sharp touch Of the spur, causing his
jaded horse to exhibit such sudden
restlessness as to keep the escort
we'll to one side, while ranged close
up to our unwelcome guest, and lay
ing firm hand upon her horses bit,
let forth to where I waited 1t was
quickly, nobly done, and could have
Rugged the fellow.
Well, good luck to you, major
and a pleasant ride. Remember me to
Brennan. Deuced queer, though, why
he failed to show up on such an &C.
casion as this"
He was unfortunate enough to be
sent out In the other direction with
dispatches-go goodnight, gentlemen.
1t was sweet music to me to listen
to their hoof-beats dying rapidly away
behind US as we turned back down the
dark road, the sergeant still riding
with his one hand grasping the
strangers rein. | endeavored to scan
her figure In the blackness, but found
the effort useless, as little more than
a shadow was visible. Yet 1t was i'm
pressed upon me that she sat straight
and firm in the saddle, so l concluded
she must be young.
Madam" | began, seeking to feel
my way with caution into her conf
dence, 81 fear you must be quite
wearied by your long ride"
She turned slightly at sound of my
voice.
Not at all, sir; | am merely eager
to push on. Besides, my ride has not
been a long one, as we merely came
from General SigePs headquarters.
The voice was pleasantly modulated
and refined.
'Ah. yes, certainly" stammered,
fearful lest / has made a grave mis-
take But really had supposed
; General Sigel was at Coulterville."
He advanced to Bear creek yes
terday," she returned quietly. so
you see We had covered scarcely more
than three miles when we met. How
a.
Brennan is stationed?"
fear | was guilty of hesitancy. but
it was only for moment.
81 am unable to tell exactly, for, as
it chances, l have never yet been in
the camp. but | should judge that two
hours riding will cover the distance"
Why" ir a tone of sudden surprise,
Captain Hale certainly told me it
was all of twenty miles,
From Bear creek?" | questioned
eagerly, for it was my turn to feel
startled now. The map barely makes
it ten"
1T is but ten, and scarcely that. by
the direct White Briar road; or, at
at least, so | heard some of the
younger officers say; but it seems the
Confederate pickets are posted so
close to the White Briar that my
friends decided it would be unsafe to
proceed that way"
This was news indeed-news so I'M
expected and startling that / forgot
all caution.
Then what road do they call this?"
She laughed at my evident tgno-
rance. as well as the eagerness of my
tone.
Really, you are a most peculiar
guide" she exclaimed gayly. You al
most convince me that you are lost
Fortunately, sir. out of my vast knowl-
edge of this mysterious region, | am
able to enlighten you to some extent
We are now riding due southwark
along the Allentown pike"