The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-11-02
CHAPTER v.-Ccntinued.

On one side of us the bank fell away
with such precipitancy ttat when we
once succeeded In dragging our load
TO the edge. we experienced no difl.
Guilty in sending II crashing down
ward The body plunged through the
thick underbrush at the bottom OF the
ogre where | knew It would be com
ple,ely hidden. even In the glare OF
daylight. from the spying eyes OF any
troopers riding hard upon our track.
AS we rapidly worked on this disa-
greeable task, thought and planned:
two horses and three riders-one OF
these a woman In need OF protection
"a dispatch to be delivered by day.
light. at all hazards. II was indeed
difficult, proposition. and saw only
single possible solution, One OF our
number must press on: two OF US
must remain behind. Which one?
what two? II | rode with the dis.
patch tand how eagerly | Ionged TO
do SOIL and succeeded In bringing
Lees message safe TO Longstreet. It
meant much TO me-promotion. dis
tinction. honor On the other hand,
II | remained behind, and Craig sue
cessfuly carried out the duty which
mad been especially lntrusted TO me.
I should be fortunate indeed to escape
with reprtmand instead OF more 80
rious consequences II failure result
ed. il meant certain and deserved dis
grace Yet ! could absolutely trust
him with the dispatch; he was sol
der, and would faithfully perform a
soldiers duty More. he would carry
the message with even greater GER
tainly than |. for he knew the roads
much better. and write the words
nesitatingly-l could not trust him
there alone with the woman.
! glanced aside at him as ! thus
turned the perpiexing situation over
In my mind--a tall, gaunt mountain
eer, whose sole discipline OF mind and
body had been the army: hardened by
service until every muscle In his lean.
slnewy frame was like steel. q cavalry
man who would follow his leader into
fhe very Jaws OF hell but whose NOR
ais we're those OF the camp, and
whose face revealed audacious devil.
try such as no man would care to see
IN one to whom he intrusted the wei
fare Of sister or wife
Sergeant" asked. finging aside
the improvised brush. how far do you
M N I nm yfrxa<a &c,
picket liner"
"Ten miles at the very best. sir"
he answered promptly. IAN reckon
with another Yankee outpost atween
with fair luck and good riding 1t
might be made by daylight?'
Il reckon as how 1t might. captain.
II we only he'd sum fresh bosses. he
said glumly: but it's bin mighty hard
on my nag: I've looked Ter him to roll
over like yer sorrei did fer the las
two mile"
We'll. Craig. you shall have both
horses Ride the woman's 1t is the
fresher OF the two: but you are to
get through II you kill them both and
then walk"
His iace frightened. and he raised
his hand In salute.
And your" be asked. wonderingiy
Il remain with the woman: there
ls no other way. Wait here moment
while ! speak with her"
left him standing there. and moved
back to where she waited AS came
up she faced me. and for the first time
flor the night had lightened some
WHAT could see her eyes and dis.
Germ some faint outline OF her face
where the night wind flung back the
upturned cape. II was winsome
sight TO soldier vision. but with a Ger
tain semblance OF pride and reserve
about It that caused hesitancy In my
speech strange to me
"Madam"-l rested my hand upon
her horses name and looked at her
with q glance as proud as her own