The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-05-30

- ! ~ INV oAS0as 49,
~. wAils thsy swiftly 49, ne
pseksts e thai sAapsasA h11eses
thing upAsiA ~ ths whssL 1AaS NV
NJ lyiAS there plainly eoSo8A eos
nearer at hand were victims fnr sosase
Of approach. and 70 they dunk sTow-
ingiy past. leaving ~ UnDsseseed
Yet ! distinguished sseusA g thsk
profane speech to render ~ oess'
tion clear. Our army had osso ps
ed reisntisssiy back. driven psl1 os0
across tie river in disordsriy eeesoae
and the Victorious forces q ~ Ceor
fsderacy held the field
A single shot rang out fAF % ny
right. and the black figure Of ons OF
those skulking vultures went sinking
past oa . run. stumbling in bis haste
over the dead bodies. Already sso-
tries diligently watched. and With the
coming OF daylight the Con6edseste
burial parties would be busy.
The very sound OF that distant mus
ket shot served to arouse me to ac'
ton. Slowly. and with no little pain.
! succeeded in creeping forth from
beneath the gun shadow. and sat up.
My side still throbbcd severely. It is
true. yet my limbs were intact. and l
managed to draw myself erect by
graspins the spokes Of the wheel until
! finally stood there faint and trem-
bling. Nevertheless realized my
strength was coming back in response
to movement, a fresh determination
taking possession of my mind. felt
ready to endeavor. provided there fe-
mained anything to endeavor for. And
why was there not? The Federal army
could not be very far away. must
try to join them. not lie here to run
the risk of capture on the morrow.
There would be some hiding place
near by into which could crawl be-
fore the revealing dawn came.
could recall 20 little of the sur
roundings. There was the black
shadow Of wood to my front. but the
river would surely be in the opposite
direction. and the narrow stream we
had crossed while coming into action
must be yonder to the left. deter
mined to creep down there anyway.
for must have water. Finally ar
rived at the edge Of the bank, where
the descent was steep. and slid silently
down. Once beside the narrow stream
! dipped my face in the running water
and drank greedily. tore aside the
rough wooien artillery shirt wore and
attempted TO explore the wound in my
side. 1T was jagged. ugly cash. evi
dently torn by a splinter. but not dan
cerously deep. although 1t had bled
profusely.
Suddenly seemed to recall to mem.
ory the vague glimpse Of distant
house far down the valley. half reveal
ed as our battery dashed forward into
position. There would undoubtedly be
found opportunity for concealment
among the outbui!dings. provided /
could attain to their shelter before day.
break: possibly for food Also II any nc-
groes get remained there. Every inch
Of this open territory would l,e dilicent-
ly searched for the wounded. and my
sole chance for escape lay somewhere
without the immediate zone of battle.
1t must have been two. perhaps three.
miles distant. q large white house al
most completely surrounded by trees
and barely showing down the narrow
gap Of the valley.
was less seriously injured than
had at first believed. and this knowl-
edge added immeasurably to my stock
Of hope and courage or Irish blood.
ardent. comba tive. the very sense OF
surrounding danger became stimu-
liant. ] stole silently down beneath the
gloom OF the bank shadow for possibly
4 hundred yards. scanning the oppo-
site shore With anxious eyes. yet per-
ceiving nothing calculated TO alarm
Then crept up to the level above. Gis'
covering there the faint traces OF
road which l followed. walking for
ward cautiously. Once ! sank down
Into shallow depression as three
shadowy borsemen rode silently past.
Then the road led downward into the
broadening valley. running through
meath the interlaced branches So dense
! could scarcely discover the way trip
ping continually over stumps and roots.
1t was n long two miles before at
tanned to the fragment Of an enclos-
ing rail fence and could perceive the
dark outlined shadow Of large shed
beyond However. the exercise OF the
tramp had served to strengthen my
muscles. while the attendant excite
ment had completely swept away the
cobwebs from my brain. bad be-
come man once more. energetic re-
sourceful: no longer the wounded, ann
less thing that had crept. weak. dizzy
and despairinG from beneath the
wrecked gun took long breath
and then crept underneath the rails
into the shed shadow.
The faintest tinge Of approaching
dawn was already in the sky. as yet
scarcely perceptible. but enabling my
eyes to distinguish the dim outlines OF
my immediate surroundings. Slightly
beyond were several small log huts.
closely grouped together. undoubtedly
the negro quarters Of the plantation.