Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-12-01

mi despair was never Tor long my
,,ade, and / had learned how de.
,nlHation opens doors to the coura-
'rs-it is ever he who tries that en-
IN. 1t took me ten minutes, pos.
sly creeping much Of the way like
lid animal over the rocks, but at
|. and of that time had attained a
.sItion we'll within the dense thicket,
\ could observe clearly the ground
fare me and some of the obstacles
be overcome.
As supposed, it was a cavalrysout-
sst: could distinguish the crossed
sbers on the caps of the men, al
aOugh it was some time before l was
Me to determine positively where
sr horses were picketed. There
INIT have been all of twenty in the
,rty, and could distinguish the lieu.
nsnt in command, q middle-aged
nan with light-colored chin beard,
xsted by himself against the wall of
small shanty OF logs, pipe in his
Mouth and an open book upon his
hee. His men were gathered close
ibuut the blazing fire, for the night
dir was decidedly chill as 1t swept
down the valley; a number were
aeeping, few at cards, while little
roup, sitting with their backs to.
ward me, yet almost within reach Of
| ny hand. were idly smoking and dis.
Gssing the floating rumors of the
camp. l managed to make out dimly
The figure of a man on horseback be-
yond the range of fame. and appar-
emily upon the very bank of the
stream, when some words spoken by
an old gray-beared sergeant interested
me-
Bob" he said to the soldier loung.
Ing next him, "whut wus it tibet staff
officer sed ter Their leftenant? l didn't
just git Their straight of It,"
The man, debonair yong fellow,
stroked his little black mustaches re-
fectively.
Their cove sed as how Coles d.
vision wud be along here afore day.
light, an tibet our fellers wud likely
be sent out ahead of EN-"
"Whar be they a goin'?"
The leftenant asked him, an the
@ve sed as it WIS gineral advance
. meet oil Hancock at Minersville. /"
"Thet's good 'nough, lads chimed
} the sergeant, slapping his knee. 1T
leans a dance down the valley after
'arly. I'm a guessin' we'll have a
alg-up OF fight fore three days
lore."
"Pervidin' alters tibet Their Johnnies
ont skedaddle fust," commented an
Their, tartly. "Whut in thunder is
her matter with them hosses?" he
sked suddenly. rising and peering
YER into the bushes beyond the hut,
here noise of squealing and kick
lg had arisen.
"oh, the bay flily is probably over
he rope agin," returned the ser
cant, lazily. "Sit down, Sims, an be
asy; you're not on boss guard ter
ight."
u know thet,' growled the soldier,
"but tibet thar kid is no
cod, an l don't want my boss all
anged up just as we're goin' on
ampaign. 'Tain't no sorter way ter
Itch EN- anyhow, to picket rope;
lns more bosses than Their Rebs
ew."
This gave me inspiration. and be-
IRE the speakers sullen growl had
molly ceased l was again upon hands
nd knees, silently cropping my way
ong the bank toward the rear of the
IT, 1t proved to be tiny structure,
but single room-prob-
Oily mere fisherman's shack, with
II windows, but possessing a door
either end. Meeting no opposition
crept within, where l felt some
nat safer from observation, and then
sered warily forth into the darkness
Itending between it and the river.
ne picket-rope stretched from one
'rner of the hut, where it seemed to
secured around the end of a pro-
eng log- ont into thS. night. eyi-