The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-02-01
CHAPTER xxvlIl.-continued.

CHAPTER xxvlll.--continued.
Il say, Cap" he said, jerking the
words outrto.the mules hard trot. and
grasping his saddle pommel desper-
ately, Il sorter reckon as how ,ther'll
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fall
"Why?" | stared at him. now thor
+. oughly aroused to- the thought that
he had important news to communi-
cate
Wal" he explained slowly, "whin
We whit off, sorter TUX notion ter
look bout bit. Used ter, be an OF
stompin' ground o. mine So Dutchy
an me clumb tibet big hill back O.
whar We halted, and by gum, down
thar in Their gully on t. other side,
thar's burned big camp O. fellers.'
! reined UP short, and with uplifted
hand signalled the men behind to
halt
Why didn't you tell me this be-
fore" ! questioned sternly.- How
many were there2 and what sid they
look like?"
He scratched the back Of his head
thoughtfully, and answered with care
full deliberation. Durn it, didn't
jine We till after I'd started, an /
reckon as how it took me all O. tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar cud talk Thar's quite a
smart bunch, but they had some pick
cts out, an cudn't git close 'nough
ter tell. zackly. Dutchy thought thar
wus nigh onter two hundred O. 'em,
but jist. don't know. They wusnt
dressed like sojers O. either army. an
| reckon they're out O. Their hills
glanced at my little handful Of
men, scarcely knowing what decision
it might be wise to make. Undoubt-
, edly they would fight If occasion
arose, but the odds were terribly
heavy; besides, if Brennan came. and
his party got away that same even
ing, as was. planned for them to lido,
then it mightsnot be necessary for us
to strike a blow. | was certainly in
no mood to expose my small command
/. merely to save the 'empty house from
destruction.t %, ~
"Ebers,'s said, turning, toward the
Sergeant. who sat his horse with ex-
F. pressionless face, you were with the
guide when -he discovered hisscamp.
How many do you think it contained?
:. and who were they?"
. Vel. dere 7vos more as two gom-
panies, Captain, und dere vos some
: horses, but dey vos dressed-vot you
calls it?-all ober not ner same"
!, mot in uniform?'
dot vos it."
& Have any, of the rest of you seen
anything thai " looked suspicious p i
asked, glancing around into the diff
{. ferent .faces.a't .r's,x - 4 80
= Maybe i did," answered one of the
stroopers named EaT;Ls AS we rode up
the first Hill after leaving the house
my horse pickedsup a stone, and had
tos stop and get it out Treckon | fell
behind; a quarters of a mile or more.
and lust as Lystarted Il looked back,
and party Of ten, or twelve fellows
Z was just riding in through them big
gates onto the front lawn. But them
fellows was. soldiers for sure; they
rode regular like. and all OF them
wore caps. 1T was so far, off couldn't
1Sll.s the color of their clothes, but
them caps made me think they was
Feds. ......-.~.~ -....
chose my course at once. This un-
doubtedly4 mast have been. Brennan's
party
THANK you, my man; it would have
been better # you had reported that
to me at once,'t + said fssHowever.
understand the situation much better
now. Sergeant, we will go into CAMP.
here Post piekets in both directions.
but puts your most careful men on.
that hill yonderss Let them. report
promptly any signs of fire to the
southeast. or any sound OF, guns. ~
We completed all our cooking be-
fore. dark and when the night finally
closed down about us it proved to be-
an exceedingly black one although.
the skies were clear. Sleep was an.
impossibility for me. as my mind was
in constant turmoil
( Ebers was lying next me upon the
grass, solemnly putting at his huge
pipe, and held my watchrto the glow
in it's bowl in order to see the time.
1t was nearly midnight
Those fellows ought to be at it
before this" 4 said to him. "if they
intend to accomplish anything to-
night
Il dfnk 50 too" he answered slowly.
"Iyyilh5see. dot der guard is all right.
sa.' 1er :ydis gst soue sleep fos ! am
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