The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-11-25

IND&4xOks MA L VI VIA < nv EIlN
was young fellow, wearing q gray
artillery jacket. with high cavalry
boots coming above the knees. no.
ticed his firmly set jaw, and a pearl
handled revolver stuck carelessly in
his belt, but observed no symbol of
rank about him.
"1s this Captain Wayne?" he asked,
not unpleasantly.
answered by an inclination of the
the others.
"Cass. bring three men over here,
and carry this officer to the same
wagon you did the others" he COM
manded briefly. Elk him comfort,
ably. but be in 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-
5ecting root. and the sudden jar of his
stumble shot spasm of pain through
me. which caused me to cry out even
through my clinched teeth.
Pardon me, lads" painted,
ashamed of the weakness, "but it
slipped out before could help it,
Don't be after mentionin' av it,
yer honor" returned a rich brogue.
Sure an me feet got so mixed CUP
that I wondher I didn't drap We en-,
toirely."
III ye had, Cheney" said tho man
named Cass, grimly, Il 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 covered army wagon, to
which fQRr mules had been already at
tached. The canvas was drawn aside.
and was lifted up and carefully de-
posted in the hay that thickly covered
the bottom. 1t was 80 intensely dark
within could see nothing of my i'm.
mediate surroundings, but 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 q
couple of miles,"
Then q hand thrust aside the can.
vas, and a face peered in. caught
faint glimmer Of stars, but could
distinguish little else.
Boys" said the leader, kindly, II
wish 1 might give you better transpor.
tation. but this is the only form of We.
hicle we can find. 1 reckon you'll 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. l caught the words of sharp,
short order, and the heavy wagon
lurched forward. It's wheels humping
over the irregularities in the road,
each Jolt sending 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. knew we had reached
the lower valley, for the road became
more level, yet the slightest jolting
now was sufficient to render me
crazed with pain, and l 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 I
dreamed dreams too terrible for rec
ord:. demons danced on the drifting
clouds before me, while whirling saw
ages chanting in horrid discord stuck
my frenzied body full of blazing
brands. At times was awake, call
ing in vain for water to quench a
thirst which grew maddening, then l
lapsed into semi-consciousness that
NASV0 AAO WAN "AIA At0 uCAll lOuo 1dA~
cies. l knew vaguely that the Major
had crept back through the darknos
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. thought 1t
was my mother comforting me. The
faint gray daylight stole in at last
through the cracks of the wagon
cover: could dimly distinguish a
dark face bending over me, framed by
= heavy gray beard, and then, merciful
unconsciousness came, and I rested
a. one dead.
CHAPTER XIV,
A Lost Regiment.