The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-10-05


sure. The feller helped me out bit
by strikin' match ter see what time
twas, or reckon I'd a walked over
him in ther dark"
Had we better ride him DOWN.
asked, thinking only how rapidly the
night hours we're speeding and of the
importance of the duty pressing upon
us.
Not with ther woman, sir" he an
swered in a low, reproachful voice.
Besides we never could git through
without a shot. an If by any dern luck
1t should turn out to be cavalry out
post-an' | sorter reckon that's what
it is-why. our horses are in no shape
fer a hard run. You uns better wait
here. sir, an let me tend ter that scger
man quiet like, an then p'raps we uns
kin all slip by without a stirrin' up
ther patrol"
WELL" I said, reluctantly, yield
ing to what | felt was doubtless the
wiser course, and mechanically grasp
ing the rein he held out to me, "go
ahead. But be careful, and don't
waste any time. II we hear the sound
of a shot we shall ride forward under
spur" +,
"All right, sir, but there'll be no
fuss, fer know just whar ther feller
is"
Time seems criminally long when
one is compelled to wait in helpless
uncertainty. every nerve on strain.
Hold yourself ready for a sudden
start" | said. warningly to my COM
panion. IF there is any noise of
struggle yonder | shall drive in the
spurs
AS | spoke | swung the sergeant's
horse around to my side, where
could control him more readily.
There was no reply from the wom-
an, but I noticed she endeavored to
draw together the tapping cape of
her cloak, as though she felt chilled
by the wind and her figure seemed to
stiffen in the saddle.
1t came at last-not the sharp flash
Of a musket cleaving the night in
twain, but merely the tall figure OF
the sergeant, stealing silently out of
the gloom like a black ghost. and
standing at our very horses heads.
"All clear, sir" he reported in a
matter.of-fact tone. But we shall
hev ter move mighty quiet. fer ther
main picket post amt more nor a
hundred yards ter the right O. ther
crossin'."
He did not remount, but, with reins
flung loosely over his arm, led the
way slowly forward, and carefully we
followed him.
What had become of the sentinel ]
did not know, respecting Craig's evil
dent desire for silence; but as we
drew nearer the White Briar road
sought in vain to pierce the dense
gloom and note some sign of a strug-
gle, some darker shadow where a
body might be lying. There was moth
ing visible to tell the story.
The sergeant walked without the
least hesitation across the open space,
directly into the deep shadows oppo-
site. where the cross-road continued
to hold way Crouching low in the
saddle, we followed him as silently
as though We were but spirits of the
night Up the road / caught the red
CLEAN of a fire almost spent, and a
black figure crossed us, casting an odd
shadow against the face of the rock
where it was lighted by the Pickering
red blaze. 1t was all over In a mo-
ment, mere glimpse, but II formed
one of those sudden pictures which
paint themselves on the brain and
can never after be effaced. | recall
yet the long shade cast by the mans
gun, the grotesque shape of his flap
ping army overcoat. the quick change
in the silhouette as he wheeled to re-
trace his beat. But there was no
noise, not even the sound of his foot
steps, reaching us. Even as / gazed,
lying open at full length upon my
horse, we had crossed the open, and
perfect tangle of low bushes hid us
as completely as If we had entered the
yawning mouth of a cavern.
A hundred yards or more Of sharply
curving road densely lined with shrub
berry on either hand, and then Craig
swung into saddle and again gave
spur to his horse.
1--WE must ride for it now" he said,
tersely. When thet patrol makes
their round, them fellers will be after
us hot"
urged my tired horse to a gallop,
pressing upon Craig's heels as closely
as | dared; nor did | glance back, for
| knew we'll that a dead picket was
lying somewhere by the crossroads,
and that his comrades would be heard
from before dawn. We were moving
bravely now; for the road under foot
grew better as we advanced, and gave
back the dull thud of soft earth in
otead of the rafting clang of the
rocks we had been so long accustomed
to. Then, suddenly, my horse was
jerked almost TO standstill, the hand
upon his bit seemingly as hard as my
own, and | wheeled in the saddle,
pressing my knees tightly to prevent
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