The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-04-27


member one important thing let me
do the talking. but II any OF you are
asked questions. we are deserters from
Hills corps. tired OF the war"
"Mein Gott," muttered the German.
disconsolately Il hope II vos not long
OF, Captain; ! am no good on foot IN
der dark. by Chiminy."
You had better manage 10 keep up
tonight. unless you are seeking 10
carefully! Load your carbines. Are
you all ready? Sergeant. see that each
man has his gun properly charged and
capped You are 10 carry your arms
as thoroughly concealed as possible;
keep close TO me always; obey my or
ders instantly, and TO the letter We
are but twenty men pltted against
over two hundred remember. and
when we strike II must be both quick
and hard"
! 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 80 filled with the excitement OF
our adventure and all that depended
upon it's successful elimination, as
scarcely to realize anything other than
the part must personally play uood
fortune and audacity alone could com
.bine 10 win the game we were now en-
gagged upon.
A tall heavily beared mountalneer
stood squarely In the middle OF the
road 70 the north OF the picket-fire.
could make out but little OF him as
the light shone, excepting that he
wore 4 high coonskin cap and bore a
long rife.
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" l
said in the slow Southern drawl, an
wanter line yer gang, peryidin thar's
any show fer t."
How many are yer" asked one OF
the newcomers, striding forward be-
tween us and the sentry.
"A right smart heap o. bunch; bin
pickin o. EN- UP ever since we left
Charlotte" returned evasively.
They be handles ter fight. an |
reckon as how We kin use 'em, can't
ye?"
Maybe; who did ye want ter seer"
wal. they sed as how Teller
named Lowrie wus runnin' this yere
gang. an II thet's ther way o IT, l
reckon as how it's Lowrie we're after.
Be you Lowrie?"
Nav"
The answer was SO gruff and short,
and the fellow hesitated so long In
adding anything TO It. began to think
It was all off
Wal" be consented 20 say at last.
ungraciously, thar's a blame pile O.
We kim In lately, an l calculate we got
bout '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 ven
diskiver him bout ther ornerest man
! fist now ever we run up again. He's
| plum mad, Red is, fer sartain,"
He turned and strobe of, without so
much as giving us backward glance.
and with hearty congratulatory kick
20 the mule, | and my company fol-
lowed him. 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 20 con-
sumo the stables Shots were fash
ing like firefiies out OF the darkness
on every side Of us, the smell OF burn
ing powder scented the air. and |
could distinguish the black forms OF
men lying prone on the grass In some
thing resembling a skirmish line.
Maxim fight o. It. aln't they"
asked OF our taciturn guide, as we
picked our way carefully among the
recumbent forms.
Damn 'em, yes, hell o. fight,
he admitted bitterly.
Just beyond musket-shot from the
! house. and nearly opposite the front
entrance, quite group or men were
standing beneath the black shadows OF
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 theft"
ITS mother party O deserters. az
wants ter jine US. said the guide,
sourly. "Theys Johnnies from Lees
army"
"oh, they dew dew they? Who's
Their boss o. this we're crowd1"
/ | swung down from my seat on the