Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-07
CHAPTER XIX.
7rhe cav.Irv o,,t.oe4


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.
I was, first Of all. q soldier, and moth
ing short Of death or capture should
prevent me reaching Leo with my
message. Let what would happen. all
else could waitl
The CLEAN Of the stars fell upon the
double row Of buttons down the
breast of the coat wore, and i
stopped suddenly with an exclamation
Of disgust Nothing could be gained
BY longer masquerade. and I felt in
expressible shame at being thus at
tired. Neither pass nor uniform
would sufiice to get me safe through
those outer picket lines. and II should
fall in tho 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 Oh the gorgeous rs.
trappings, flung them in the ditch he
side the road. and pressed on, feeling
like new man. s,s
There was small need for caution
here, and for more than an hour !
tramped steadily along, never meeting
person or being startled by q sus-
picious sound. Then. as rounded =
low eminence perceived before me
the darkoutlines 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 a fire.
knew the stream we'll, its steep
banks of percipitate rock, Its rapid,
swiriing current which, ! was well
aware, was not sufficiently expert
swimmer to cross. Once upon the
other bank should be comparatively
safe. but to pass that picket post and
attain the ford was certain to require
ell the good fortune could ever hope
for.
But despair was never for long my
comrade. and had learned how. de-
tsrmination opens doors to the coura-
geous-it is ever.he who tries that en-
tiers In. It took me ten minutes, pos
fibly, creeping much OF the way like
= Wild animal over the rocks, but at
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, 1t was = cavalry out
post; l 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 al Of twenty IN the
party, and could distinguish the lieu
tenant in command. q middle-aged
man with light-colored chin beard.
seated by himself against the wall OF
Z small shanty Of logs. Q pipe In his
mouth and an open book upon his
knee. His men were gathered close
about the blazing nre, for the night
air Was decidedly chill as it swept
down the valley. =, number were
sleeping. q few ct cards, while little
1 group, sitting with their backs to-
ward mo, yet almost within reach OF
my hand. were Idly smoking and dis
GUESSING the floating rumors q the
camp. managed to make out dimly
the figure Of man on horseback be-
You'd the range Of fame. and appar-
emily upon the very bank OF the
stream. when some words spoken BY
an old gray-beared sergeant interestsd
me. -
+. 'eBob," he said 70 tho soldier lounk-
Ing next him, "whut WINS It thet stan
,ofncer sed ter Their leftenant! I didn't
just git Their straight Of It,"
The man, . debonair youg fellow.
tstroked his little black mustaches re-
.fectively.
.'Ther cove sed as how Coles d.
vision wud be along here afore day
light, an thet our fellsrs wud likely
lbe sent out ahead Of 'em.
''Whar be they Z goin',"
1.-THE leftsnant asked him, an the
cove sed as It wus q ginsral advance
Ito meet OF Hancock at Minersvills."
4 ''Thst,s good 'nough, lads" chimed
IN the sergeant, slapping his knee. TT
means q dance down tho valley after
EARLY. I'm q guessin' we'll have .
bang-up OIL fight fore three days
more s
+, sPervidin' alters thet Their Johnnies
don't skedaddls fust." commsnteds an.
scther, tartly ''Whut In thunder 4
sther matter with them shossss?" ne
asked suddenly, rising and pserins
over into the bushes beyond the hut,
where noise Of squealing and kick
Ing had arisen. i
'oh. the bay oily 10 probably over
the rope asln. returned the SER
Igeant lasily. 'sit down. Sims. an -
.isasy: you're not On boss guard ter.
iinig1t !. IS 80 ,rs
IS = know thst,. growled the soldier.
beautifully. "hut thst thar Nd 4 no
!, good. a. 81 doa'te want my hess III
.bang1A VI lust = wsfs Eoin' ON
acamDaiGA. sTatn.e 70 soeter way ster
hitch - S1yAe o. : picSst ropss
ruins Aoss No. lAa tAik Rshe
1 dew. - Is 81 4 !,
~z1tsg gayos mo Inspiration ana be-
fore the speaker sullen growl had
sMholly csase1 I 49, again upon hands
-
/ siioinS - - ~ q = lssslr q
hut. = $1,000 q ~ esluse