The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-04-13

boots coming above the knees. ! no.
ticed hs H. My set jaw, and pearl
handled revolver stuck carelessly In
his Ls.,. LIT observed no symbol OF
rank about him.
lis this Captain Wayne7" he asked,
not unplcasantly.
answered by an inclination OF the
head. and be turned at once toward
the others.
"Cass. bring three men over here.
and carry this officer 20 the same
wagon you did the others" he com
manded briefly. Fix him comfort.
ably. but be In hurry about IL.
They lifted me In the blanket one
holding tightly at either corner, and
bore me tenderly out into the night.
Once one OF them tripped over a pro
jecting root. and the sudden jar OF his
stumble shot spasm OF pain through
me, which caused me to cry out even
through my clinched teeth.
Pardon me. lads" painted.
ashamed of the weakness. but II
slipped out before could help t."
Don't be after mentionin' av Il.
yer honor" returned rich brogue.
Sure an me feet got so mixed CUP
that | wondher didn't drap We en-
toirely"
III We had, Cheney" said the man
named Cass, grimly. Il reckon as how
the Colonel would have drapped you.
At the foot OF narrow ravine. lead.
ing forth into the broader valley. we
came TO a covered army wagon, TO
which four mules had been already at
tached. The canvas was drawn aside,
and | was lifted up and carefully de
posted In the hay that thickly covered
the bottom. II was 80 intensely dark
within 7 could see nothing OF my i'm
mediate surroundings, but low moan
told me there must be at least one
other wounded man present Outside
j heard the tread OF horses hoofs. and
then the sound OF Mosby's voice
Jake, he said. drive rapidly. but
with as much care as possible. Take
the lower road after you cross the
bridge, and you will meet with no pa
trolls. We will ride beside you for a
couple OF miles"
Then a hand thrust aside the can
vas, and face peered in. caught
a faint glimmer OF stars. but could
distinguish little else.
Boys" said the leader, kindly. Il
wish | might give you better transpor.
tation, but this is the only form of We
hicle we can find, reckon you'll get
pretty badly bumped over the road
you are going, but I'm furnishing you
all the chance TO get away in my pow
er. We shall guard you as long as
necessary, and then must leave you
To the kindly ministrations OF the
driver"
He reached In, leaning down from
his saddle to do SO, drew the blanket
somewhat closer about me. and was
gone. caught the words OF sharp.
short order, and the heavy wagon
lurched forward, it's wheels humping
over the irregularities In the road
each jolt sending fresh spasm OF
pain through my tortured body
May the merciful God ever protect
me from such Il ride again, II seemed
interminable. while each long mile
we travelled brought with II new and
greater agony OF mind and body.
The hours that followed were all
but endless knew we had reached
the lower valley. for the road became
more level, yet the slightest Jolting
now was sufficient TO render me
crazed With pain. and | had lost all
power Of restraint My tortured
nerves throbbed: the fever gripped
me, and my mind began TO wander.
Visions of deirium came. and |
dreamed dreams too terrible for rec
ord: demons danced on the drifting
clouds before me while whirling saw
ages chanting In horrid discord stuck
my frenzied body full OF blazing
brands AT times ! was awake, call.
ing in vain for water TO quench
thirst which grew maddening. then
lapsed into "a semi-consciousness that
drove me Wild with It's delirious fan.
eies. ! knew vaguely that the Major
had crept back through the darkness
and passed his strong arm gently be
meath my head ! heard him shouting
In his deep Yoice TO the driver for
something TO drink. but was unaware
of any response All became blurred.
confused bewildering | thought It
was my mother comforting me. The
faint gray daylight stole IN at last
through the cracks OF the wagon
cover; could dimly distinguish q
dark face bending over me. framed by
a heavy gray beard. and then. merciful
Inconsistencies came and rested
as one dead.