The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-10-26


Z 9 had LETT me lqF the time Il,
utterly forgetfnl as,to the pain o. my
wounds. 90 that Wealaness alone held
ne 70 me blanket upon which I had /
bean left. The night was uecidely
chilly, yet I had scarcely begun 20
fael Is discomfort, when man strobe
forward from out OF the nearer group
ana stood looking down upon me. H.e
was q young fellow. wearing q gray
artillery Jacket with high cavalry
boots coming above the knees mo-
ttced his firmly set jaw, and pearl
handled revolver stuck carelessly in
his belt, but observed no symbol OF
rank about him
rs this Captain Wagner he asked,
not unpleasantly.
/ answered by an inclination OF the
head, and he turned at once toward
the others.
"Cass, bring three men over here.
and carry this oRcer to the same
wagon you did the Others he com
manded briefly. FIX him comfort
ably, but be in a hurry about It. =
They. lifted me in the blanket, one
holding tightly at either corner, and
bore me tenderly out into the night
Once one of them tripped over a pro-
iecttng root, and the sudden Jar of his
stumble shot spasm OF pain through
me, which caused me to cry out even
through my cIinehed teeth.
Pardon me, lads. painted
ashamed of the weakness, but 1t
slipped out before could help It.
Don't be after a mentionin' av it.
yer honor" returned a rich brogue.
Sure an me feet got SO mixed CUP
that 1 wondher l didn't drap y0 en-
toirely.''
IF ye had, Cheney" said the man
named Cass, grimly, II reckon as how
the Colonel would have drapped you"
At the foot Of narrow ravine, lead
ing forth into the broader valley, we
came to a covered army wagon, to
which four mules had been already. at
tached. The canvas was drawn aside,
and 1 was lifted up and carefully de-
posted in the hay that thickly covered
the bottom. It was SO intensely dark
within could see nothing Of my i'm.
mediate surroundings, but a low moan
told me there must be at least one
other wounded man present. Outside
heard the tread of horses hoofs, and
then the sound of Mosby's voice
Jake" he said, drive rapidly, but
with as much care as possible. Take
the lower road after you cross the
bridge, and you will meet with no pa
trolls. we will ride beside you for a
couple of miles
Then a hand thrust aside the can
vas, and a face peered in. 1 caught
"a faint glimmer OF stars, but could
distinguish little else.
Boys said the leader, kindly, u
wish I might give you better transpOr'
to- 60 = ~
hicle we can find. I reckon you'n get
pretty badly bumped over the road
you are going. but I'm furnishing you
all the chance to get away in my pow.
er. We shall guard you as long as
necessary, and then must leave you
to the kindly ministrations OF the
driver
He reached in, leaning down from
his saddle to do SO, drew the blanket
somewhat closer about me, and was
gone. 1 caught the words Of a sharp
short order, and the heavy wagon
lurched forward, its wheels humping
over the irregularities in the road.
each jolt sending a fresh spasm OF
pain through my tortured body.
May the merciful God ever protect
me from such ride again! 1t seemed
interminable. while each long mile
we Travelled brought with 1t new and
greater agony OF mind and body.
The hours that followed were all
but endless. l knew we had reached
the lower valley. for the road became
more level, yet the slightest Jolting
now was sufhcient to render me
crazed with pain, and I had lost all
power of restraint. My tortured
nerves throbbed; the fever gripped
me, and my mind began to wander.
Visions of delirium came, and 1
dreamed dreams too terrible for rec
ord: demons danced on the drifting
clouds before me, while whIrHng saw
ages chanting in horrid discord stuck
my fTsnzied body full OF blazing
brands. At times I was awake, call
ing in vain for water to quench a
thirst which grew maddenlng, then l
lapsed into a semi-consciousness that
drove me wild with its delirious fan
cies. knew vaguely that the Major
had crept back through the darkness
and passed his strong arm gently be-
meath my head. / heard him shouting
in his deep voice to the driver for
something to drink, but was unaware
of any response. All became blurred,
confused, bewilderIng l thought 1t
was my mother comforting me. Tho
faint gray daylight stole in at last
through the cracks of the wagon
cover: could dimly distinguish "
dark face bending over me, framed by
q heavy gray beard, and then, merciful
JnconsciOusnpss came and I rested