The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-10-19
CHAPTER III.-continued.

chuckle, but before | had sufficiently
regained control over my own feel.
ings to venture upon a suitable reply,
the entire party had drawn forward,
the leader pressing so close to my side
that | felt safer with my face well
shaded.
Where is your escort, MAORI" he
asked, and the gruffness Of his tone
put me instantly on defense.
Just behind u.s." returned, with
affected carelessness, and determined
now to play out the game, lady or no
lady. l was extremely sorry for her,
but the cause outweighed her comfort.
The sergeant and l rode out ahead
when we heard you coming. Where
is the lady?"
He glanced around at the group
huddled behind him.
Third on the left"
"All right, thea. Nothing else, l
believe" for was eager to get
away. Sergeant just ride in there
and lead out her Horse. We will have
to be moving, gentlemen, for It is a
rough road and dark night"
"Beastly." assented the other, heart
fly.
fairly held my breath as Craig
rode forward. II one of them should
chace to strike a match to light a
pipe, or any false movement of Craigs
should excite suspicion! II he should
even speak, his soft southern drawI
would mean instant betrayal. And
how coolly he went at 1t; with a
sharp touch Of the spur, causing his
jaded horse to exhibit such sudden
restlessness as to keep the escort
we'll to one side, while ranged close
up to our unwelcome guest, and lay
ing firm hand upon her horses bit,
let forth to where l waited 1t was
quickly, nobly done, and could have
Rugged the fellow.
We'll, good luck to you, major,
and a pleasant ride. Remember me to
Brennan. Deuced queer, though, why
he failed to show up on such an oc-
caslor as this"
He was unfortunate enough to be
sent out In the other direction with
dispatches-goodnight gentlemen"
1t was sweet music to me to listen
TO their hoofbeats dying rapidly away
behind us as we turned back down the
dark road, the sergeant still riding
with his one hand grasping the
EfFnnUor'c roir I g.
her figure in the blackness, but found
the effort useless, as little more than
a shadow was visible. Yet it was i'm
pressed upon me that she sat straight
and firm in the saddle, so l concluded
she must be young.
Madam" l began, seeking to feel
my way with caution into her conf
dence, Il fear you must be quite
wearted by your long ride"
She turned slightly at sound of my
voice.
mot at all, sir; am merely eager
TO push on. Besides. my ride has not
been a long one, as We merely came
from General SigePs headquarters"
The voice was pleasantly modulated
and refined.
"Ah, yes, certainly" | stammered,
fearful lest had made a grave mis-.
take. But really had supposed
General Sigel was at CoulterviIle."
He advanced to Bear creek yes
terday," she returned quietly. 80
you see we had covered scarcely more
than three miles when We met. How
much farther is it to where Major
Brennan is stationed?"
fear | was guilty OF hesitancy, but
ut was only for a moment.
Il am unable to tell exactly, for. as
tt chances, l have never yet been in
the camp, but should Judge that two
hours riding will cover the distance"
why" in tone of sudden surprise,
Captain Hale certainly told me it
was all Of twenty miles!"
From Bear creek?" | questioned
eagerly, for it was my turn to feel
startled now. The map barely makes
1t ten"
1T is but ten, and scarcely that. by
the direct White Briar road; or, at
at least, so heard some of the
younger officers say; but it seems the
Confederate pickets are posted so
close to the White Briar that my
friends decided 1t would be unsafe to
proceed that way"
This was news indeed-news so uu-
expected and startling that forgot
all caution.
Then what road do they call this?"
She laughed at my evident tgno-
rance, as well as the eagerness of my
tone.
Really you are a most peculiar
guide. she exclaimed gayly. You al
most convince me that you are lost.
Fortunately, sir. out of my vast knowl-
edge Of this mysterious region, am
able to enlighten you to some extent.
We are now riding due southwark
along the Allentown pike"
Craig leaned forward so as to look
across her horses neck to where /
rode on the opposite side
May ! speak a word, sir?" he
asked. cautiously.
Certainly, sergeant; do you make
out of all this?"
Yes, sir" he answered eagerly Il
know now exactly how VIC missed 1t,
and where we are. The cutoff to the
White Briar | spoke to you about this
afternoon cannot be more than hun
dred yards below here"
Ride ahead carefully then. and see
II You can locate it. Be cautious:
there may be picket stationed there.