Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-06-01

their crime-midnight robbers OF the
dead / lay there silent, almost breath
less. while they swiftly rifled the
pockets of that shapeless. hideous
thing upheld by the wheel They saw
me lying there plainly enough. but
nearer at hand were victims Tar easier
of approach. and SO they skunk growl-
ingly past. leaving me unmolested
Yet 1 distinguished enough of their
profane speech to render the situa-
ton clear. Our army had been press
ed relentlessly back. driven pell nell
across the river in disorderly retreat.
and the victorious forces Of the Con-
federacy held the field
A single shot rang out far to my
right, and the black figure of one of
those skufking vultures went sinking
past on a run. stumbling In his haste
over the dead bodies. Already SEN
tries diligently watched. and with the
coming OF daylight the Confederate
burial parties would be busy
The very sound of that distant mus
ket shot served to arouse me to ac-
ton. Slowly. and with no little pain.
l succeeded in creeping forth from
beneath the gun shadow. and sat up.
My side still throbbed severely. it is
true. yet my limbs were intact. and 1
managed to draw myself erect by
grasping the spokes of the wheel until
l finally stood there faint and trem-
bling. Nevertheless 1 realized my
strength was coming back in response
to movement. a fresh determination
taking possession OF my mind. felt
ready to endeavor, provided there re-
manned anything to endeavor for. And
why was there not? The Federal army
could not be very far away. l must
try to join them. not lie here TO run
the risk of capture on the morrow
There would be some hiding place
near by into which 1 could crawl be-
fore the revealing dawn came
could recall so little of the sur
roundings- There was the black
shadow of wood to my front. but the
river would surely be in the opposite
direction. and the narrow stream we
had crossed while coming into action
must be yonder to the left l deter
mined to creep down there anyway.
for l must have water. Finally 1 ar
rived at the edge of the bank. where
the descent was steep. and slid silently
down. Once beside the narrow stream
dipped my face in the running water
and drank greedily. i tore aside the
rough wooden artillery shirt / wore and
attempted to explore the wound in my
side. 1t was a jagged. ugly cash. evil
IDENTIFY torn by a splinter. but not dan
gerously deep. although it had bled
profusely.
Suddenly I seemed to recall to men,
Org the vague glimpse of distant
house far down the valley. half reveal
ed as our battery dashed forward into
position. There would undoubtedly be
found opportunity for concealment
among the outbuildings, provided I
could attain to their shelter before day
break: possibly for food also If any ne
groes yet remained there. Every inch
of this open territory would be diligent-
~ searched for the wounded. and my
sole chance for escape lay somewhere
without the Immediate zone of battle.
1t must have been two. perhaps three,
miles distant, large white house al
most completely, surrounded by trees
and barely showing down the narrow
gap of the valley.
! was less seriously injured than l
had at first believed. and this knowl-
edge added UNNECESSARILY TO my stock
of hope and courage. OF Irish blood.
ardent. combative. the very sense of
surrounding danger became Il stimu-
liant i stole silently down beneath the
gloom of the bank shadow for possibly
a hundred yards. scanning the oppo-
site shore with anxious eyes. yet per-
ceiving nothing calculated to alarm
Then crept up to the level above. dis
covering there the faint traces of a
road which / followed. walking for
ward cautiously Once I sank down
into a shallow depression as three
shadowy horsemen rode silently past
VI ~ 81 - = I~
broadening valley. running through
black fringe OF trees. the gloom be-
meath the interlaced branches so dense
l could scarcely discover the way. trip
ping continually over stumps and roots.
1t was n long two miles before at
tanned to the fragment of an enclos-
ing rail fence and could perceive the
dark outlined shadow of large shed
beyond. However. the exercise of the
tramp had served to strengthen my
muscles, while the attendant excite
ment had completely swept away the
cobwebs from my BRAIN / had be-
come n man once more. energetic. re-
sourceful; no longer the wounded, aim
less thing that had crept. weak. dizzy
and despairing from beneath the
wrecked gun took a long breath
and then crept underneath the rails
into the shed shadow.
The faintest tinge of approaching
dawn was already in the sky. as yet
scarcely percepdble. but enabling my
eyes to distinguish the dim outlines of
my immediate surroundings. Slightly
beyond were several small log huts.
rIoSeIv crowned together undoubtedly