The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-03-19

ashamed OF the weakness, "but It
slipped out before could help IT.
Don't be after a mentionin' av 1t,
yer honor" returned q rich brogue.
Sure an me feet got 30 mixed oup
that / wondher ! didn't drap We en-
toirely"
III ye had. Cheney" said tho man
named Cass. grimly. II reckon as how
the Colonel would have drapped you"
At the foot OF a narrow ravine. lead.
Ing forth into the broader valley, we
came to a covered army wagon, to
which four mules had been already at.
tached. The canvas was drawn aside,
and | was lifted up and carefully de-
posted In the hay that thickfy covered
the bottom. IL was so intensely dark
within could see nothing OF my Inn
mediate surroundings. but a low moan
told me there must be at least one
other wounded man present. Outside
1 heard the tread OF horses hoofs, and
then the sound Of Mosby's voice.
Jake" he said. drive rapidly, but
with as much care as possible. Take
the lower road after you cross the
bridge. and you will meet with no pa.
trolls. We will ride beside you for a
couple Of miles"
Then a hand thrust aside the can.
vas. and a face peered In. l caught
a faint glimmer OF stars, but could
distinguish little else.
Boys" said the leader. kindly. "I
wish might give you better transpor-
taion. but this is the only form of We
hicle we can ind. reckon you'll get
pretty badly bumped over the road
you are going, but I'm furnishing you
all the chance to get away In my DOW
er. We shall guard you as long as
necessary, and then must leave you
to the kindly ministrations of the
driver"
He reached in. leaning down from
his saddle to do 30, drew the blanket
somewhat closer about me, and was
gone. 1 caught the words of a sharp,
short order, and the heavy wagon
lurched forward. its wheels humping
over the Irregularities In the road,
each jolt sending a fresh spasm Of
pain through my tortured body.
May the merciful God ever protect
me from such ride again! 1t seemed
interminable, while each long mile
We travelled brought with II new and
greater agony Of mind and body.
The hours that followed were all
but endless. / knew we had reached
the lower valley. for the road became
more level. yet the slightest Jolting
now was sufficient to render me
crazed with pain, and l had lost all
power OF restraint. My tortured
nerves throbbed; tho fever grlpped
me, and my mind began to wander.
Visions of delirium came, and /
dreamed dreams too terrible for rec
ord: demons danced on the drifting
clouds before me, while whirling saw
ages chanting In horrid discord stuck
my frenzied body full of blazing
brands. At times l was awake, call.
Ing In vain for water to quench a
thirst which grew maddening, then l
lapsed into a semi-consciousness that
drove me wild with its delirious fan
cies. l knew vaguely that the Major
had crept back through the darkness
and passed his strong arm gently be-
meath my head. / heard him shouting
In his deep voice to the driver for
something to drink, but was unaware
OF any response. All became blurred,
confused, bewildering. / thought it
was my mother comforting me. The
faint gray daylight stole In at last
through the cracks of the wagon
cover; I could dimly distinguish a
dark face bending over me, framed by
a heavy gray beard. and then, merciful
inconsistencies came, and I rested
as one dead.