River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-12-05

would anticipate by reaching there
before morning All this flashed over
me, as my eyes hastily surveyed the
familiar surroundings. Then / be-
came aware that the older scout was
reporting.
There's quite a bunch of horses
picketed down there in the ravine,
SIR" he said. pointing toward the
right.
How many?"
ooh, maybe twenty or thirty;
Joe an l couldn't get very close, as
there's a couple of men on guard on
top of the bank A hundred feet down
you can see 'em plain against the
sky"
Wasn't what you saw a cattle
herd?"
mo, sir" positively. They're
horses, picketed in line like a cavalry
troop, and they've got their saddles
on"
What this all meant could not be
guessed at, but there must be some
scheme of deviltry under way,
"HaYe either of you crossed the ra-
vine?" / asked, endeavoTing to reach
some conclusion.
Eyes, sir, Joe did. He was up in
the edge of the orchards"
See any men,
mot a man, sir, outside" answered
the other. But / saw shadows agains.
the curtains on that lower floor.
couldn't tell how many; they just
come an go, only they wasn't dressed
alike"
One thing was sufficiently certain
we could gain little information re-
naming where we were.
Sergeant" ! said, determining
swiftly on a course of action. take
your men, dismounted. across the ra-
der cover, but get as close to the
house as you can safely. Picket your
horses back there beside the road
And you, sir?"
'I'll take Tom with me, and We'll
circle that horse herd, and come up
to the house from the rear l want
to discover where those fellows are.
and what they are up to. See this
whistle, sergeant?
Eyes, sir
ut gives sharp, shrill blast. If
blow it twice, get your men inside
the house instantly. I'll not sound
tit unless need you at once. Wen
wait here until you get across"
They disappeared into the black
depths of the ravine, moving cautious
ly and with little noises Tom and |
plunged down the steep slope, feeling
our way through the darkness, but
moving to the right, toward where
the scouts had indicated the horses
were being herded. We skirted these,
creeping along the opposite bank be-
hind a fringe of bushes, certain that
the darkness concealed our move
ments from the two men on guard
We crossed fifty feet above, gained
the top of the bank, and crawled
down, sheltered from observation, un-
guards Peering cautiously over, we
could easily distinguish the black out.
lines on the hillside below.
One man was standing up, leaning
against the trunk of small tree,
while the other was sitting on the
ground. his head bent forward, and
his hat drawn low over his eyes. Mel.
Their had uttered sound, but as my
eyes strained through the darkness !
began to perceive details which
awakened a new suspicion. The fell
low standing up wore a cap and no
coat. and his hands were clasped
about a short, sawed-off gun. He had
none of the appearance of the sol
der. but the other man apparently
was in uniform, although l could not
distinguish its character. What in
stantIy attracted my attention was the
fact that his hands were evidently
tied behind his back. If this was true
then he was prisoner, and the other
had been stationed there to guard him.
this as soon as /. for felt his fingers
grip my arm.
Creep around the edge of the rock
there" l said, pointing. THAT will
bring you at his back, and not more
than FIVE feet away. Can you do it?"
He nodded grimly.
Leave your weapons here" added,
and when you spring. get hold of his
gun so he cannot fire. I'll cover him
the instant you strike. Go on"
He unbuckled his belt, and crept
along to the right, so noiselessly that
even /, watching his snake-like move
ment, could hear no sound. The
guard did not move his head, and the
other remained motionless, his face
bent almost to his knees. Down be
low the horses stamped restlessly,
and switched their tails. Watching
each motion like a hawk, j saw Tom
dip over the crest. and worm his way
down behind the rock. Then he dis.
appeared, until, as he cautiously arose
to his feet, his head and shoulders
emerged shadowy just beyond. Real
izing he was ready, got to my knees.
| gripping a pistol butt. Without a
j warning sound the dragon leaped, his