The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-01-25
CHAPTER xxVIII.-continued.

say, Cap" he said. jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot, and
grasping his saddle pommel desper.
ately. Il sorter reckon as how ther'll
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fail"
WhyT | stared at him, now thor.
oughiy aroused to the thought that
ne had important news to communi-
cate.
Wal, he explained slowly. "whtn
ye wtnt OF, sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout a bit. Used ter be an OIL
stompin' ground O. mine. So Dutchy
an me clumb thet big hill back O.
Whar we halted. and by gum. down
thar In ther gully on t. other side
thar's burned big camp O. felIers."
reined up short and with upllfted
hand Signalled the men behind to
halt
Why didn't you tell me this be-
-foref" | questioned sternly. How
many we're there? and what did they
look Iike?"
He scratched the back Of his head
thoughtfuily. and answered with care
ful deliberation. "Durn 1t, didn't
Jine ye till after I'd started, an
reckon as how it took me all O. tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar | cud talk. Thars quite a
smart bunch, but they had some pick
cts out, an | cudn't git close nough
ter tell Hackly. Dutchy thought thar
wus nigh onter two hundred O. EN-,
but I iist don't know. They Wusn't
dressed like sojers O either army, an
l reckon they're out O. ther hills"
{ glanced at my little handful OF
men. scarcely knowing what decision
1t might be wise to make. Undoubt-
edly they would fight If occasion
arose. but the odds were terribly
heavy: besides. II Brennan cane. and
his party got away that same even.
ing. as was planned for them to do,
then 1t might not be necessary for us
to strike a blow. | was certainly in
NO mood to expose my small command
merely to save the empty house from
destruction.
'Ebers." said. turning toward the
Sergeant. who sat his horse with ex-
pressiOniess face. you were with the
guide when he discovered this camp.
How many do you think 1t contained?
and who were they?"
vel. dere vos more as two gom.
panieS. Captain, und dere vos some
horses. but dey Vos dressed-vot you
calls it?-all ober not ner same"
MOT In unIform?"
dot vos II"
Have any Of the rest Of you seen
anything that looked suspicious?" 1
asked, glancing around into the diff
Serent faces.
Maybe I did" answered one Of the
troopers named Earl. las we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up stone. and I had
to stop and get 1t out reckon fell
behind a quarter of a mile or more.
and just as | started looked back.
and a party Of ten or twelve fellows
was Just riding In through them big
gates onto the front lawn. But them
fellows was soldiers for sure; they
rode regular like. and all of them
wore caps. It was so far of couldn't
tell the color of their clothes. but
them caps made me think they was
Feds
chose my course at once. This un-
dunbtedly must have been Brennans
party.
Thank you. my man; 1t would have
been better If you had reported that
to me at once" said However.
understand the situation much better
now. Sergeant, we will go into camp
here. Post pickets In both directions
but out your most careful men on
that hill yonder. Let them report
promptly any signs of fire to the
southeast, or any sound of guns"
We GnHpNAt5a all our cooking be-
fore dark. and when the night finally
closed down about US 1t proved to be
an exceedingly black one, although
ths skies we're clear. Sleep was an
impoSsibility for me. as my mind was
In constant turmoil.
Ebers was lying next me upon the
grass, solemnly putting at his huge
pipe. and held my watch to the glow
In dts bowl In order to see the time.
It was nearly midnight
These fellows ought to be at 1t
Before this" said to him. III they
antend to accomplish anything TO
night.
Il dink so too" he answered siowEy.
r vlIl see dot der guard is all right.
an. den viii gat aonle sleep. for ! am