The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-01-27

fening for the slightest sound OUT al
that black void. My head burned anu
throbbed as with fever. and felt that
strange. unnatural stiffness as though
Il had been n physical thing; surely
others besides us were upon this hiii-l
top, For knew well--my every SOL
der instinct told me--that somewhere
out in that impenetrable mystery were
blazing the camp fires OF an enemy.
yigilant eyes were peering evti<-
where in search OF such as we. low
far away they might Turk ! could not
even conjecture perhaps merely
around some projecting wall OF rock.
and we might even now be within
the range OF their ready rihes.
could hear the quickened throbbing or
my heart, and my hand fell heavily
on a pistol butt In nervous expect
ancy.
The soft night wind. heavy with
pine odors. began suddenly 10 play
amid the leaves of a low tree beside.
me, and the pleasant rustling mingled
like strains OF music with the slow
breathing OF the horses. | recall IL
now as one OF the loneliest moments
OF my life, one of those almost IN
! accountable conditions OF mind ana
| body when Il seemed TO me that tho
| thin, sinewy fingers OF an inexorable
fate we're closing down with n pres
sure which no strength Of man might
resist. was worn with fatigue In
the saddle, but did not dream OF
sleep; my mind. In a firm endeavor
20 cast aside the uncanny Influences
OF the hour, recalled In swift piano.
rama those three years OF civil strife
which had run their course since J..
a slender, white-faced lad, had stolen
forth into the moonlight from the por1
tails OF the old home. to ride away into
the northward where the throbbinG
drums called me, SO deeply had my
every thought become merged inf
these musings that Craig. slipping 81
lently as a ghost from out the cnguif-
ing darkness, laid hand upon my
bridle-rein before became aware OF
his approach.
II got 'er all right now. Cap" he an
nounced quietly, peering up into my
/
hundred yards ter the right or the
road. but | reckon you'll find Their way
bit rough"
lie led both horses forward. NOV
ing slowly and with that silent eau
ton so characteristic OF his class
With scarcely the scraping OF hoof
on the flinty rocks we came forth In
safety upon the defined, hard-beaten
track
The south Is over yonder ter tho,
left" he whispered. as he swung up
into saddle. "an' the trend OF the road
is mighty nigh due west"
but In which direction does their
main camp lie, sergeant
"Durn IT, thet's Just what ] can't
quite figure out, sir-whether we uns
be TO Their north or south OF thor
white church. Then. somehow or 9TH
er. IL seems like to me as II this
yere road lay bit too close ter the
edge OF Their plateaus ter ever be tho
+. main pike what the Feds marched
over. reckon from Their direction
IL runs that maybe IL might be
branch like, or wood.road leadin'
/, inter the other. II thets the way it
7, is. then them fellers we uns is tryin'
. ter dodge ought ter be down yonder
. ter the left somewhat"
: gazed vaguely out into the black
: vacancy TO which he pointed
! well, If We should chance to run
J up against one Of their picket posts
; we shall soon be enlightened" | re
turned, urging my horse carefully for
: ward. but we shall have to take
the chances. for II would not prove
healthy for either OF us TO be caught
here by daylight"
Not daring 20 venture on any gait
. faster than n walk along this unknown
! and ill-deiined mountain trail, we slow.
~ and cautiously worked our way
forward for more than an hour, meet
: ing with no human obstacle TO our
u progress, yet feeling that each step
, forward was surrounded by imminent
. peril. That we were now well within
! the guarded lines OF the enemy
we were both assured, III
l. though where or how we had succeed
, ed In penetrating the Gordon OF picket
q posts unobserved we could only con-
: lecture,