The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-01-18

west as far as the foothills. and ars
expected to note carefully three
things: First. the condition OF for.
age for the sustenance Of a wagon
train; second, what forces Of FEEDER
al troops, II any. are along the Honey.
well: and third. the gathering of all IN.
formation obtainable a. to the report.
ed consolidation OF guerillas for pur.
poses OF plumber between the lines. II
time suff1ce, you might cross over into
the valley of the Cowskin and learn
the condition OF forage there as we'll.
A guide 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 | am 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 impassive as though carved
from stone.
We vos. captain"
Where is the guide?"
dot is him. nit der mule. amt IT.
he answered, pointing with one huge
hand down the road
Very well, We will pick him ur
then as we 60"
cared so little as to whether or not
he accompanied us 6. all. that we had
advanced some distance before the
thought of him again occurred to ME.
| knew the gentry fairly well. and had
experienced In the past so many EVIL
dences Of their stupidity, II not actual
disloyalty, as to prefer my own knowi.
edge of the country to theirs. My
thought. indeed. for several miles was
not at all with the little party OF
troopers jogging steadily at my heels,
nor, in truth, was 1t greatly concerned
with the fate OF the expedition. That
was but service routine. and rode
forward carelessly 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 coynmand.
Captain" he exclaimed apologet.
ically. riding up to my side and wiptng
his round. perspiring face with great
energy, we are riding too hard. amt
We? Mein Colt. but der horses will
give out entirely. already"
rs that so?" asked In surprise al
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 we'll
we will halt here"
With a sigh of relief he drew back
and as he did so my eyes fell for the
first time upon the guide. AS | I've
it was Jed Bungay. and when stared
at him In sudden amazement ne broke
into broad grin.
.'Durn II l didn't begin ter think as
how yed gone an claI forgot me
Cap
Not bit of 1t. jed" and rode UP
to him and extended m, hand. But
how came you here? are you the
guide?"
Sure thing, cap; know this yere
kintry like bulk. 'Jaded horsemer
from the west, at evening u the castle
pressed BY gum, you put Beelzebut
an me through a blamed hard jolt Of
it so fur"
"Beeizebub?"
I'VE bet, Their mule; recko6 as how
We amt gone an forgot him, hev ye!
"Bungay, what has become at Ma
ria?'
The little mans eyes suddenly oiled
with tears.
II jist don't know. cap" he answered
mournfully "Whin | got hum tbel
OF cabin he'd bin plum burnt down
nary stick O 1t left. by gum! an Ma
riar she wuz clean gone. Hain't sees
neither hide ner hair O. her since
thet's fac. An sorter drifted bach
| ter you uns cause didn't hev nowhal
| else ter CO."
did you hunt for her among the ole
plantations along the valley?" asked
deeply touched by his evident feeling
she very likely sought refuge II
| some OF those houses"
| fTO En- CoNTINITED,