Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-12-21

a torn and ragged remnant, barely
forty men wore the ID" between the
crossed sabres on their slouched
brown hats, in spite of all recruiting.
The cheer in my heart was for the
living; the tear in my eye was for
the dead
colgate" I said gravely, as l
ranged up beside him at the rear of
the troop, "the men look exceedingly
we'll, and do not appear to have suf-
fered greatly because of short ra.
tions."
ooh, the lads are always in fine
fettle when they expect fight" he
answered, his own eyes dancing as he
swept them over that straight line of
backs in his front. They'll scrap the
better for being a bit hungry,-it
makes them savage. Beats all, Cap
tain. what foolish notions some of
those people on the other side have
of us Southerners. They seem to
think we are entirely different from
themselves; yet reckon 1t would puz-
zle any recruiting officer up yonder
to show finer lot of fighting men
than those fellows ahead there"
rode slowly forward to my own
position at the head OF the troop. AS
swung my horse into our accustomed
position was too deeply buried in
reflection to be clearly conscious Of
much that was occurring about me.
Suddenly. however. / became aware
that some one, nearly obscured by the
enveloping cloud Of dust, was riding
without the column, In an independ-
ence of military discipline not to be
permitted. In the state of mind 1 was
then in this discovery strangely IT.
ritated me.
Sergeant" I questioned sharply, Of
the raw-boned trooper at the end of
the first platoon, what fellow is that
riding out yonder?"
Its Their pesky little cuss as come
in with We yesterday, sir" he returned
with grin. He's confiscated muel
somewhat an says he's a goin' back
hum long o. we uns."
Curious to learn how Jed had
emerged from his arduous adventures,
l spurred my horse alongside of him.
The little man, bending forward
obviously, as If fearful Of accident,
was riding bareback on gaunt. long
legged mule, which, Judging from all
outward appearances, must have been
a3c0or1od M hn oy.to
masters department.
Going home, jedi" I asked, as he
glanced up and saw me.
"Jist as durn quick as I kin git
thar" he returned emphatically. "By
gum. Cap, amt bin way from Marian
long as this afore in twelve year
Reckon she thinks I've skedaddled fe1
good this time, al Ill be a takin
up with some other malo critter lest
git back thar mighty sudden. Won
ems odd, Cap. durn nigh as ornary
bout some things as a muel"
He eyed his mount critically.
burned if ever l thought I'd gil
astraddle O any four-legged crittel
agin," he said, rubbing himself as Ii
in sudden and painful recollection Of
the past. But sort picked up this
yere muel down ct Their corral, an he's
tew durn wore out totin' things fel
you uns ter ever move often walk
sorter reckon it's heap easier 9
sittin' yere than ter take 1t afut al
Their way ter Their 1lountings."
1t was long after dark the SECOND
day when, thoroughly wearied, W.
turned into an old tobacco field ant
made camp for the night. To righ
and left of our position glowed tn,
CHEEKY fires, telling where Early
command bivouacked in line of battle
From the low range of hills in from
of where we rested one could lool
across an intervening valley, and Sc,
far off to the northward the din
flames Which marked the position o
the enemy. Down In the mysteriou
darkness between, divided only by
swift and narrow stream. were tn,
blue and gray pickets. The opposing
forces were sleeping on their arms
making ready for the death grip OF
the morrow.
AS lay there thinking, wonderin,
what might be my fate before anothe
nightfall, seeing constantly in my hall
dreams the fair face of woman
which made me more of cowar
than I had ever felt myself before
l was partially aroused by the dronin
tones of voice close at hand Lift
| Ing myself on one elbow / glance
| curiously around to see where
originated, what was occurring. Clus
tered about roaring fire of rail
We're a dozen troopers, and in tn
midst of them, occupying the post G
honor upon an empty powder key, wa
Bungay, enthusiastically recitin
Scott. 1 caught a line or two:
.At once there rose SO wild ye