The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-02-03

rearing ugly heads on either hand. |
4 caught a swift glimpse OF rough
log house on the right, so set back
among trees that | half doubted its
real existence. when--there was
slip. the crunching OF stone, long
stumble forward that fairly wrenched
my hand loose from the woman's rein.
and then, hopelessly struggling to re-
gain his feet. my horse went down
with a crash, head under. and l was
hurled heavily forward upon my face.
Craig. startled at the sudden crash be
hind him. spurred back TO learn the
full extent of my disaster. BY this
time had regained my feet
I'm all right. think. sergeant" !
said hastily. but the sorrel has brok-
en- her neck"
He began to swear at our Ill luck.
but | stopped him with a gesture he
knew better than TO ignore.
Enough OF that" I commanded.
sternly. bad fortune is seldom bet
tered by hard words. First OF all.
help me TO drag this dead body out OF
sight"
On one side OF us the bank fell away
with such precipitancy that when we
once succeeded In dragging our load
TO the edge, we experienced no din
Guilty In sending II crashing down
ward The body plunged through the
thick underbrush at the bottom OF the
oggre. where l knew II would be com
pletely hidden, even in the glare OF
daylight, from the spying eyes OF any
troopers riding hard upon our track.
AS we rapidly worked on this disa-
greeable task. / thought and planned;
two horses and three riders-one OF
these a woman In need OF protection
IA dispatch to be delivered by day
light. at all hazards. II was indeed
a difficult proposition, and saw only
a single possible solution. One OF our
number must press on; two OF US
must remain behind Which one7
what two? II / rode with the dis
patch (and how eagerly longed TO
do SOD and succeeded in bringing
Lees message safe 10 Longstreet. L
meant much TO me-promotion, dis
tinction, honor. On the other hard.
cessfully carried out the duty which
had been especially intrusted TO me.
| should be fortunate indeed to escape
with a reprimand instead OF more sc
rious consequences. IL failure result
ed. II meant certain and deserved dis
grace. Yet | could absolutely trust
him with the Dispatch he was sol.
der. and would faithfully perform a
soldiers duty. More, he would carry
the message with even greater GER
tainty than /. for he knew the roads
much better. and-I write the words
hesitatingly-I could not trust him
there alone with the woman.
| glanced aside at him as thus
turned the perplexing situation over
In my mind-a tall, gaunt mountain
eer, whose sole discipline OF mind and
body had been the army; hardened by
service until every muscle in his lean
sinewy frame was like steel, cavalry
man who would follow his leader into
The very jaws OF hell, but whose NOR
als were those OF the camp. and
whose face revealed audaclous devil.
try such as no man would care TO see
In one to whom he intrusted the vel
fare OF sister or wife.
Sergeant" asked. finglng aside
the improvised brush how far do you
suppose we are from Longstreets
picket line?"
Ten miles at the very best sir
he answered promptly. IAN | reckon
with another Yankee outpost atween."
With fair luck and good riding II
might be made by daylight"
II reckon as how Il might, captain,
II we only he'd sum fresh bosses" he
said glumly; but it's bin mighty hard
on my nag; I've looked fer him to roll
over like yer sorrel did fer the las'
two mile"
Well. Craig. you shall have both
horses. Ride the woman's. IL is tho
fresher OF the two; but you are TO
get through IL you kill them both and
then walk"
His face frightened, and he raised
his hand In salute
And you?" he asked, wonderingiy.
Il remain with the woman: there
Is no other way. Wait here moment
while | speak with her"
left him standing there. and moved
back to where she waited. As came
up she faced me. and for the frst time
(for the night had lightened some
what | could see her eyes and dis
Germ some faint outline OF her face
where the night wind flung back the
upturned cape, II WAS winsome
sight to soldier vision. but with a GER
tain semblance OF pride and reserve
about Il that caused a hesitancy In my
speech strange TO me.
Madam rested my hand upon
her horses name and looked at her
with a g'ance as proud as her own
1T might be as we'll for you TO draw
tho cnn.. clnacr about rnnr faoo ~