The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1911-12-13

keep close TO me Always, obey my or
ders instantly. and to the letter. We
are but twenty men pitted against
over two hundred, remember, and
when we strike, 1t must be both quick
and hard"
l mounted the mule. counted the
dim figures in the darkness, and then
gave the order to march. AS we
moved slowly down the hill | was
aware that Cation walked upon one
side of me. while Bungay plodded
along upon the other; but my mind
was SO filed with the excitement Of
our adventure and all that depended
upon its successful elimination, as
scarcely to realize anything other than
the part must personally play. GOOD
fortune and audacity alone could COM
bine to win the game We were now en-
gagged upon.
A tall heavily beared mountaineer
stood squarely In the middle OF the
road to the north Of the picket-fire.
| could make out but little of him as
the light shone. excepting that he
wore a high coonskin cap and bore a
long rifle.
Stop right thar" he called out
hoarsely. upon hearing us. who are
you uns?"
As he challenged, a dozen others
sprang up from about the flame and.
guns in hand. came toward us on a
run.
We uns are doggoned tired o. sol
dierin'. an a gittin' nuthin' fer it,"
said in the slow Southern drawl, an
wanter jine yer gang. pervidin' thar's
any show fer it,
How many arc ye!" asked one OF
the newcomers, striding forward be-
tween us and the sentry.
A right smart heap O. a bunch: bin
a pickin' O. 'em up ever since we left
Charlotte" returned evasively.
They be handles ter tight. an l
reckon as how 70 kin use 'em, can't
ye?"
Maybe; who did ye want ter see?"
Wal. they sed as how felier
named Lowrie wus a runnin' this yere
gang. an II thets Their way o It.
reckon as how it's Lowrie we're after.
Be you Lowrie?"
Nav"
ne hubWeT was 30 BIuH anu buui L
and the fellow hesitated so long in
adding anything to It. ] began to thin:S
1t was all on
Wal" he consented to say at last.
ungraciously. thar's a blame pile o.
ye kim In lately. an calculate We go
'Lout 'nough fer our business, but |
reckon as how Red will use ye some
whar. Anyhow you uns kin come
long with me an find out. but yen
dlskiver him bout Their ornerest man
jist now ever ye run up again. He's
plum mad. Red 10. fer sartain."
lie turned and strobe on. without so
much as giving us a backward glance.
and. with a hearty congratulatory kick
to the mule. I and my company fol
lowed him. A hundred yards further
in we passed through the fringe OF
trees and emerged into an open space
from whence We could see plainly the
great white house still illumined by
the flames which continued to con.
sumo the stables. Shots were fash.
ing like firenies out Of the darkness
on every side of US. the smell Of burn.
ing powder scented the air. and
coulu ulsunBuisn Tue uiuCh iotub W
men lying prone on the grass in some
thing resembling q skirmish line.
Maxim a night O. It. amt they"
asked of our taciturn guide. as va
picked our way carefully among the
recumbent forms.
Damn 'em. yes. a hell O. a fight"
he admitted bitterly.
Just beyond musket-shot from the
house. and nearly opposite the front
entrance. quite a group OF men were
standing beneath the black shadows OF
a grove OF trees. In spite Of the CLEAN
from the fire could make little Of
them, but as We approached from the
direction OF the rear. one OF them ex'
claimed suddenly:
Who comes thar? What body O.
men Is thet?'
Its mother party O. deserters. as
wants ter jine U.S." said the guide.
-ourly. "They's Johnnies from Lees
army"
oh. they dew. dew they? Who's
iher boss O. this yere crowd?"
I swung down from my seat on the
.lule's back. and stood facing him. as
he advanced.
We uns hain't got no boss" | an.