The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-10-19

were life and death. felt my pulses
throb as rode steadily forward. fair.
ly thrusting the darkness aside. my
teeth hard set. my left hand heavily
on 3 revolyer butt.
How. In such a situation. the nerves
tingle and the heart bounds to each
strange sight and sound! Haiti
what was that? Pooh! no more than
the deeper shadow Of \ sharply pro
jecting rock. around which we pick
careful way. our horses crowding
against each other In the narrow
space. And that? Nothing but the
faint moan OF the night wind amid
the dead limbs Of tree. All! mark
that sudden fash Of light! The hand
that closes iron-like upon the loosened
rein opens again. for It was merely 4
star silently falling from out tho
black depths of the sky. Then both
Of US halt at once. and peer anxiously
forward. The figure standing direct.
ly In the center OF our path. can 1t be
a sentry at last? A cautious step for.
ward, low laugh from the sergeant.
and we circle the gaunt. blackened
stump. as silent ourselves as the
night about uB. but with flercely beat.
ing, expectant hearts.
But bark! Surely that was no COM
mon sound. horn Of that drear loHeit
ness! No cavairyman can mistake the
jingle Of accoutrements or the dull
thud Of horses's hoofs. The road here
must have curved sharply. for they
were already so close upon US that,
almost simultaneously with the sound,
we could distinguish the deeper
shadow Of a small compact body Of
horsemen directly In our front. To
left Of US there rose. sheer and black,
the preripitous rock: to right We might
not even guess what yawning void.
1t was either wit Of sword play now.
know not how It may be with others
in such emergencies. but with me 1t
always happens that the sense OF fear
departs with the presence Of actual
danger. Before the grewsome fancies
Of imagination | may quake and burn
like any maiden alone upon city
street at night, until each separate
nerve becomes very demon OF men.
tai agony; but when the real and
known once fairly confronts me. and
there Is work to do. grow instantly
cool to think. resolute to act, and find
a rare Joy In It, 1t was SO now. and.
revolver in hand but hidden beneath
my holster flap. leaned over and
touched Craig's arm.
Keep quiet" whispered sternly.
Let them challenge first. and no
firing except OH my order"
Almost with the words there came
the sharp hail:
Halt! Who comes there?"
drew the cape OF my riding jacket
closer. so as better to muffe the
sound of my voice.
Friends, of course: who would you
expect to NEE, on this road?"
Fortune seemed with me In the
chance answer. for he who had hailed
exclaimed
Ol. IS ludL yOu, Di cHuoA'
There was no time now for hest.
fancy; here was my cue, and | must
plunge ahead. accepting the chances.
| ventured 1t.
mo: Brennan couldn't come. | am
here In his place"
Indeed! Who are your
Major Wilke."
There was moments painful
pause, in which | could hear my
heart throb.
"Wilkie," repeated the voice. doubt
fully. There Is no officer OF that
name in the Forty-third."
We'll. there chances to be such an
officer on the staff" retorted, permit
ting q trace of anger to appear in my
tone. land am the man"
What the devil is the difference.
Hale, Just what his name is?" doomed
a deeper voice back in the group. I'VE
are not getting upa directory OF the
Sixth corps. OF course he's the man
Brennan sent. and that Is all we've
got to look after"
"Oh, all right. certainly. major" re-
turned the first speaker. hastily. But
the night Is SO cussed black ! sup
posed we must be at least a mile this
side of where we were to meet. How
ever, we have the lady here for you.
all right, and she Is anxious enough to
get on"
mn r,rN