Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-02-21
CHAPTER xxVIII.-continued.

Il say, Cap" he said, jerking the
words out to the mules hard trot, and
grasping his saddle pommel desper-
ately, 81 sorter reckon as how ther'n
be some fun back thar afore long less
all signs fail"
''Why?" l stared at him, now thor
0ughly aroused to the thought that
be had important news to communt-
cate
Wal" he explained slowly, "whin
&c whit off, I sorter TUX a notion ter
look bout bit Used ter be an OF
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 burned big camp O. fellers."
| refined up short, and with uplifted
hand slgnalled the men behind to
halt
why didn't you tell me this be-
many were there? and what did they
look like?"
He scratched the back of his head
thOughtfully, and answered with care
full deliberation. ''Durn it, l didn't
jine ye till after y'd started, an /
reckon as how it took me all O. tew
mile ter git this yere blame muel up
ter 'whar | cud 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
wus nigh onter two hundred o. 'em,
but | jist don't know They wusn't
dressed like sojers O. either army, an
l 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 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-
Dressionless face. you were with the
guide when he discovered this camp.
Flow many do you think it contained?
and who were they?"
Vel, dere vos more as two gom-
panies, Captain. ind dere vos some
horses, but dey yos dressed-vot you
calls it?-all ober not ner same"
Not in uniform?"
Dot yos 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. las we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house
my horse picked up a stone. and had
to stop and get it out. l reckon | fell
behind a quarter of a mile or more.
and just as l started / looked back.
and a 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, 1t 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
doubtedly must have been Brennan s
party.
Thank you, my man: it would have
been better if you had reported that
TO me at once" | said However, /
understand the situation much better
now. Sergeant we viii 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
tore dark and when he ntght finally