Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-03-08
CHAPTER xxvlIl.-continued.

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 .therll
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fall.
"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
re whit off, sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout bit. Used ter be an OF
stompin' ground O. mine So Dutchy
an me clumb thet 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 We're there? and what did they
look like?"
He scratched the back of his head
thoughtfully and answered with care
ful deliberation. "Durn it, | didn't
Jine We till after y'd started an |
reckon as how 1t took me all O. tew
mile ter git this we're blame muel up
ter whar cud talk. Thar's quite a
smart bunch, but they had some pick
cts out, an cudnt git close nough
ter tell zackly. Dutchy thought thar
wus nigh onter two hundred O. EN-,
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
1t might be wise to make. Undoubt-
eddy 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 do,
then it might not be necessary for us
to strike blow, | was certainly in
no mood to expose my small command
merely to save the empty house from
destruction
"Ebers." l said, turning toward the
Sergeant, who sat his horse with ex-
pressionless face, you were with the
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 some
horses, but dey yos dressed-vot you
calls it?-all ober not ner same"
Not in uniform?"
dot vos it."
Have any of the rest of you seen
anything that looked suspicious?" /
asked, glancing around into the diff
ferent faces.
Maybe did, answered one Of the
troopers named Earl. AS we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up a stone, and had
to stop and get 1t out. | reckon fell
behind quarter of mile or more,
and Just as started | looked back.
and party of ten or twelve fellows
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. It was so far off couldn't
tell the color of their clothes, but
them caps made me think they was
Feds"
chose my course at once. This I'm
doubleday must have been Brennan's
party
Thank you. my man; 1t would have
been better If you had reported that
to me at once" said However,
understand the situation much better
now Sergeant, We will go into camp
here Post pickets in both directions,
but put your most careful men on
that hill yonder. 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