Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-01-26

eastward and tramped resolutely on.
| was, first of all, soldier. and moth
ing short of death or capture should
prevent me reaching Lee with my
message Let what would happen. all
else could wait!
The g,eam of the stars fell upon the
double row of buttons down the
breast of the coat wore, and
stopped suddenly with an exclamation
of disgust Nothing could be gained
by longer masquerade, and | felt In
expressible shame at being thus at
tired. Neither pass nor uniform
would suffice to get me safe through
those outer picket lines. and if should
fall in the attempt. or be again made
prisoner. vastly preferred meeting
my fate clad in the faded gray of my
own regiment. With odd sense of re-
lief | hastily stripped off the gorgeous
trappings. flung them in the ditch be-
side the road, and pressed on. feeling
like new man.
There was small need for caution
here. and for more than an nour i
tramped steadily along, never meeting
a person or being startled by a sus-
picious sound. Then, as | rounded a
low eminence perceived before me
the dark outlines of trees which marked
the course of the White Briar, while
directly in my front. and half OBJ
scured by thick leaves of the under
brush, blazed the red glare OF fire.
knew the stream well. its steep
banks of percipitate rock. its rapid.
swirling current which, | was we'll
aware, was not sufficiently expert
swimmer to cross. Once upon the
other bank | should be comparatively
safe, but to pass that picket post and
attain the ford was certain to require
all the good fortune could ever hope
for.
But despair was never for long my
comrade, and l had learned how de-
termination opens doors to the coura-
geous-it is ever he who tries that en-
tiers in. 1t took me ten minutes. pos
sibly, creeping much of the way like
a wild animal over the rocks, but at
the end Of that time | had attained
position we'll within the dense thicket.
and could observe clearly the ground
before me and some of the obstacles
to be overcome
AS | supposed, 1t was cavalry out
post; could distinguish the crossed
sabers on the caps of the men. al
though it was some time before was
able to determine positively where
their horses were picketed. There
must have been all of twenty in the
party, and | could distinguish the lieu
tenant in command, middle-aged
man with light-colored chin beard,
seated by himself against the wall of
a small shanty of logs, a pipe in his
mouth and an open book upon his
knee. His men were gathered close
about the blazing fire, for the night
air was decidedly chill as 1t swept
down the valley; a number were
sleeping, few at cards, while little
group, sitting with their backs to-
ward me. yet almost within reach of
my hand. were idly smoking and dis
cussing the floating rumors of the
camp. | managed to make. out dimly
the figure Of a man on horseback be-
yond the range of flame, and appar-
emily upon the very bank of the
stream. when some words spoken by
an old gray-beared sergeant interested
me.
Bob he said to the soldier loung-
ing next him, whit wus it thet staff
officer sed ter Their leftenant? | didn't
just git Their straight of it."
The man, debonair yong fellow.
stroked his little black mustaches re-
fiectively
'Ther cove sed as how Coles d.
vision wud be along here afore day
light, an tibet our fellers wud likely
be sent out ahead of en-
''Whar be they goin'?"
THE leftenant asked him, an the
cove sed as it wus a gineral advance
to meet OF Hancock at Minersville."
"Thets good 'nough. lads" chimed
in the sergeant, slapping his knee. 1T
means dance down. the valley after
Early. I'm glessin' we'll have a
bang-up OF fight fore three days
more"
'Pervidin' alters thet Their Johnnies
don't skedaddle fust," commented an
other, tartly. "Whut in thunder is
Their matter with them hosses?" he
asked suddenly, rising and peering
over into the bushes beyond the hut,
where noise of squealing and kick
ing had arisen.
"Oh. the bay FLY is probably over
the rope agin,' returned the SER
geant. lazily. "Sit down, Sims, an be
easy; you're not on boss guard ter
night"
q know thet," growled the soldier;
doubtfully, but thet thar kid is no
good, an l don't want my boss all
banged up just as were goin' on
campaign. 'Tain't no sorter way ter
hitch EN- anyhow, to picket rope;
ruins more bosses than Their Rebs
dew"
(To BE CoNTINUED.)
Standard of Colors.