Middletown transcript., 1911-12-16
cHAPrER xIx.
The Cavalry OUTPOST.

horea, and then watched through the
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
was, first Of all, soldier, and moth
ing short of death or capture should
prevent me reaching Lee with my
message. Let what would happen, all
else could Waitl
The gleam Of the stars fell upon the
double row Of buttons down the
breast of the coat / wore, and |
stopped suddenly with an exlamation
Of disgust. Nothing could be gained
= by longer masquerade, and felt In
expressible shame at being thus at
tired. Neither pass nor uniform
would sufice to get me safe through
those outer picket lines, and If / should
fall In the attempt, or be again made
prisoner, vastly preferred meeting
my fate Glad In the faded gray Of my
own regiment. With odd sense of re-
lief hastily stripped on the gorgeous
trappings, flung them in the ditch be-
side the road, and pressed on, feeling
like q new man.
There was small need for caution
here, and for more than an hour Z
tramped steadily along, never meeting
q person or being startled by 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
secured by thick leaves Of the under
brush, blazod the red glare Of a fire.
knew the stream well, its steep
banks O9 percipita' rock, its rapid,
sWirling current hich, was well
aware, I was not sufficiently expert
swimmer to cross. Once upon the
other bank l should be comparatively
safe, but to pass that picket post and
attain the ford was certain to require
all the good fortune could ever hope
for. E4
But despair was never for long my
comrade, and l had learned how de-
termination opens doors to the coura,
geousAt Is ever he who tries that en-.
GerS I'M It took me ten minutes, pos
sibly, creeping much Of the way like
q wild: animal over the rocks, but at
the end of that time had attained q
position well within the dense thicket,
and could observe clearly the ground
before me and some of the obstacles
70 be overcome.
As supposed. It was 9 cavalry out
post; ! could distinguish the crossed
sabers on the caps Of the men, al
though it was some time before was
able. to determine positively where
their horses were picketed. There
must have been all of twenty in the
party, and could distinguish the lieu
tenant in command, middle-aged
man with nght-colored chin beard,
seated by himself against the wall OF
q small shanty Of logs, pipe In his
mouth and an open book upon his
knee. His men were gathered close
about the blazing fire, for the night
air was decidedly chill as it swept
down the valley; number were
sleeping, few at cards, while a little
group, sitting with their backs to-
ward me, yet almost within reach Of
my hand. were idly smoking and dis
icussing the floating rumors of the
camp. managed to make out dimly
the figure Of man on horseback be-
yond the range Of flame, and appar.
emily upon the very bank Of the
stream, when some words spoken by
an old gray-beared sergeant interested
me.
Bob" he said to the soldier loung.
ang next him, "whut wus it thet stan
Officer sed ter ther leftenant? didn't
Just git ther straight of It."
The man, q debonair youg fellow,
stroked his little black mustaches re-
Aectively,
"Ther cove sed as how Coles d.
vision wud be along here afors day
light, an thet our fellers wud likely
be sent out ahead Of EN-"
"Whar be they q goin'?"
"The Ieftenant asked him, an the
core sed as it wus q gineral advance
20 meet OF Hancock at Minersville."
"Thet's good 'nough, lads" chimed
In the sergeant, slapping his knee. 1T
means q dance down the valley after |
Early. I'm o guessin' well have a
bang-up OF fight fore three days
more"
srparyidInS oIIArs &hn4 4hnr TohruIau !
don't skedaddle fust," commented an.
other, tartIy. "Whut In thunder ID
thsr matter with them hosses?" he
asked suddenly, rising and peering
over into the bushes beyond the hut,
where noise Of squealfng and kick.
dns. .hst arisen.
"oh,. the bay ally in probably over
che rope agin," returned the ser.
geantE Azily. sit down, Sims, an be
easy; eyou're not on boss guard ter !,
night.
'T know thet," growled the soldier,
Ao1bttdlly, but thet thar kid ia no
good, an I don't want my hoss all
BANGED up just as we're goin' on
campaign. 'Tain't no sorter way ter
hitch 'em anyhow, to a picket rope;
gums more hosses than ther Rebs
dew
This gave me inspiration, and be-
fore the speakers suIlen growl had
wholly ceased was again upon hands
and knees, silently groping my way
along the bank toward the rear OF the
Aut lt proved to be tiny structure,
containing but q single room prob
ably . mere fsherman's shack, with
out windows, but possessing q door
Rt either end. Meeting no opposition
I crept within, where / felt some
what safer from Observation, and then
peered warily forth into the darkness
extending between It and the river.
The dcketFope stretched from oAe
corner of'ths hut, where It seemed to
be secured afOund the end Of pro
5ectsng los out into the night, evi-
aeh irang itb other terminus st
bi8 tree whoss sprse1in9 top COW
dinaIy perceive sh6dey Asd awninst
sky Along It were tetksre0
horses, q few imH IDENTITY cham
their bits and pounding with