Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-01-24

west as far as the foothills. and arN
expected to note carefully thnee
things: First, the condition of for
age for the sustenance OF a wagon
train: second. what forces OF FEEDER
al troops. II any. are aleng the Honey.
well; and third. the gathering of all in.
formation obtainable as to the report.
ed consolidation of guerillas for pur.
poses of plumber between the lines. II
time suffice. you might cross over into
the valley of the Cowskin and learn
the condition OF forage there as we'll
A s2tde Will accompany your party,
and you are to avoid contact with the
enemy as far as possible. Your men
carry five days rations. You under.
stand fully?"
Il do, sir; presume aEn to start
at once?"
Your squad, under command of
Sergeant Ebers. is already waiting out
side"
Are you all ready. sergeant?"
asked of the rather heavyweight Ger.
man who stood fronting me. his broad,
red face as impressive as though carved
from stone.
We vos. captain"
Where is the guide?"
DOT is him, init der mule, amt IT.
he answered. pointing with enc huge
hand down the road
Very we'll. We will pick him ur
then as we go"
cared so little as to whether or not
he accompanied us at all. that we had
advanced some distance before the
thought of him again occurred to me-
knew rhe gentry fairly well. and had
experienced in the past so many evil
dences of tleir stupidity, II not actual
disloyalty. as to prefer my own knowl-
edge Of tie country to theirs. My
thought. indeed. for several miles was
not at all with the little party Of
troopers jogging steadily nc my heels.
nor. in truth. was II greatly concerned
with the fate of the expedition. That
was but service routine. and | rode
forward careiessly enough. never
dreaming that every hour OF progress
was bearing me toward the most i'm
portant adventure of my life. 1t was
the German sergeant who recalled me
to the responsibilities of coSnmand.
Captain" he exclaimed apologet-
ically. riding up to my side and wiping
his round perspiring face with great
energy. we are riding too hard, amt
We? Mein Colt. but der horses viii
give out entirely, already"
is that SOP | asked In surprise at
his words. A single swift glance
around convinced me he was correct
for the mounts were exceedingly soft.
and already looked nearly played out
from our sharp pace. Very well.
we will halt here"
With sigh of relief he drew back.
and as he did so my eyes fell for the
first time upon the guide. AS live,
It was Jed Bungay, and when stared
at him in sudden amazement ne broke
into a broad grin.
"Durn II | didn't begin ser think as
how ye'd gone an claI forgot me.
Cap"
Not bit of it. Jed" and rode up
to him and extended my hand. But
how, came you here? are you the
guide?"
Sure thing. cap; kn0T this yere
kintry like a buk. Jaded horsemen
from the west, at evening to the castle
pressed. BY gum. you PUT Beelzebub
an me through blamed hard Jolt OF
1t so fur"
"Beelzebub?''
"Ye bet, Their mule; reckon as how
We amt gone an forgot him, hev yer"
"Bungay. what has become st Ma,
ria?"
The little mans eyes suddenly allied
with tears.
Il iist don't know, cap" he answered
mournfully. "Whin | got hum tlrer
Of cabin he'd bin plum burnt down
nary stick o. It left. by gum! an Ma
rlar she wuz clean gone Hain't seed
neither hide ner hair O. her since.
thet's a fac. An sorter drifted back
ter you uns cause didn't hey nowhar
else ter go"
Did you hunt for her among the old
plantations along the valley?" asked
deeply touched by his evident feeling.
She very likely sought refuge In
some Of those houses"