Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-01-10
CHAPTER xvII.-continued.

Colonel Curran is certainly to be
congratulated upon having found so
charming a guide, madam, ard | can
assure you l shall most gladly do my
part toward the success of the expedi-
ton. The Major was expected back
before this, l believer"
He left word that if he had not
returned by twelve l was to wait for
him no longer, as he should go directly
to his quarters, l find the life of a
soldier to be extremely uncertain"
We are our country's servants.
madam" he replied proudly, and then
taking out pad Of blanks from his
pocket, turned to me.
May l ask your full name and
rank, Colonel?"
Patrick L. Curran, Colonel, Sixth
Ohio Light Artillery"
He wrote it down rapidly, tore off
the paper, and handed it to me.
That will take you safely through
our inner guard lines" he said grave
ly, that being as far as my jurisdic-
ton extends. Goodnight, Colonel;
goodnight, Mrs. Brennan"
We bowed tremendously, and the
next moment Mrs. Brennan and
were out upon the steps, breathing
the cool night air. | glanced curious
ly at her face as the CLEAN Of light
fell upo1 it-how calm and reserved
she -ppeared, and yet her eyes were
aglow with intense excitement At
the foot Of the steps she glanced up
at the dark, projecting roof far above
US
do you suppose he can possibly be
Up there yet?" she asked, in a tone
So low as to be inaudible to the ears
of the sentry.
Who? Bungay?" l questioned in
surprise, for my thoughts were else
where. ooh, he was like a cat, and
there are trees at the rear. Prob
ably he is safe long ago, or else
a prisoner once more"
Beyond the CLEAN of the uncovered
Windows all was wrapped in complete
darkness, save that here and there
we could distinguish the dull red
glare of camp-fires where the company
cooks .rere yet at work, or some
sentry post had been established We
turned Sharply to the left, and pro-
ceeded down a comparatively smooth
road, which seemed to me to possess
q rock basis, it felt } hard From
the position of the stars l judged our
course to be eastward, but the night |
was sufficiently obscured to shroud
all objects more than few yards dis,
SAINT Except for the varied camp |
Goises on either side of US the eve |
ming was oppressively still, and the /
air had the late chill of high attitudes. |
Mrs. Brennan pressed more closely to /
me as we passed beyond the narrow
zone of light, and unconsciously We I
fell into step together.
A few hundredt,sItrds farther fire
burned redly against a pile of logs.
The forms of several men lay out
stretched beside it, while sentry I
paced back and forth, in and out of |
the range of light We were almost I
upon him before he noted our ap-
preach, and in his has .e he swung his T
musket down from his shoulder until |
the point of it's bayonet nearly I
touched my breast,
Haiti he cried sternly. peering at
,a1 in evident surprise. Halt! this
road is closed
VALLEY Forge" whispered the girl,
and l noticed how white her face APP
peared in the flaming of the fire.
1.-The word is all right, Miss" re-
turned the fellow. stoutly. yet with
out lowering his obstructing gun But
we cannot pass any one out on the
countersign alone If you was going
the other way it would answer
But we are returning from the Off T
GERS ball" she urged anxiously. land I
are on our way to Major Brennan's |
quarters. We have passes"
IS she drew the paper from out her
glove one of the men at the fire /
sprang to his feet and strobe across
the narrow road toward US He was
smooth of face and boyish looking.
but wore eorporars stripes
What is it. Mapes?" he asked
sharply
Without waiting an answer he took
the paper she held out and scanned
T. rapidly