Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-05-29
CHAPTER xxvlII.-contInuss:.


CHAPTER xxvIII.-contInueG.
Il say, Cap" he said, Jerking the
words out to 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 fail"
"Why?" l stared at him, now thor.
Oughly aroused to the thought that
he had important news to communi-
cate.
Wal" he explained slowly, "whin
ye whit off, | sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout a bit. Used ter be an oil
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 a burned big camp O. fellers."
| refined 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 there? and what did they
look like?"
He scratched the back Of his head
thoughtfully, and answered with care
full elaboration. "Durn It, | didn't
fine ye till after y'd started, an |
reckon as how 1t took me all O. tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter whar | cuu talk. Thar's quite a
smart bunch, but they had some pick
cts out, an l cudn't git close 'nough
ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar
WIS nigh onter two hundred O. 'em,
but | jist don't know They wusn't
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
eddy they would fight II occasion
arose, but the odds were terribly
heavy; besides, If Brennan came, anC
his party got away that same even
ing, ns was planned for them to do
then it might not be necessary for us
20 strike blow. was certainly II
no mood to expose my small command
merely to save the empty house from
destruction.
'Ebers," / said, turning toward thc
Sergeant, who sat his horse with ex
pressionless face, you were with tht
guide when he discovered this camp
How many do you think it contained
and who were they?"
"vel, dere vos more as two gom
panies, Captain, und dere vos som,
horses, but dey vos dressed-vot yoV
calls it?--all ober not ner same"
Not in uniform"
dot vos it."
Have any Of the rest Of you seel
anything that looked suspicious?"
asked, glancing around into the dill
ferent faces.
Maybe l did" answered one of tn
troopers named Earl "As we rode u
the first hill after leaving the hous
my horse picked up a stone, and ha
to stop and get 1t out. l reckon fe
behind quarter of a mile or more
and Just as | started | looked bacl
and party of ten or twelve fellow
was just riding in through them bi
gates onto the front lawn. But thel
fellows was soldiers for sure; the
rode regular like, and all of thel
wore caps. 1t was so far off l couldn
tell the color of their clothes, bl
them caps made me think they wa
Feds"
| chose my course at once. This u,
doubtedly must have been Brennan
party.
THANK you, my man; it would hay
been better If you had reported thi
to me at once" | said However,
understand the situation much bett,
now. Sergeant, we will go into can
here. Post pickets In both direction
but put your most careful men {
that hill yonder. Let them repo
promptly any signs OF fire to Il
southeast, or any sound of guns"
We completed all our cooking
fore dark. and when the night final
: closed down about us It proved to
an exceedingly black one, althoul
the skies were clear. Sleep was
innpossibility for me, as my mind W
in constant turmoil
, Bbers was lying next me upon 4
grass, solemnly putting at his hu
pipe, and l held my watch to the gle
in its bowl in order to see the tin
' 1t was nearly midnight
8 Those fellows ought to be at
s before this" said to him, ''if tn
intend to accomplish anything
night"
Il dink so too" he answered slow
81 viii see dot der guard is all rig
a. den viz get some sleep, for ]