The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-14
CHAPTER w.
A Woman With q Temper.

A Woman With q Temper.
think we must have been fully an
hour at 1t. riding at no mean pace,
and with utter disregard Of danger.
Although I knew little OF where We
were, and nothing as to the condition
of the path we traversed. yet 80 com.
plete was my confidence in Craig that
I felt no hesitancy In blindly following
the pace he set. Then q black shape
ioomed up before US so suddenly that
II was only by q quick effort I pre-
vented collision. Even as I held
my horse poised half in air. I per-
ceived IL was Craig himself who
blocked the way.
What 10 II, sergeant?"
"A picket, sir. at the end Of the
road" he said, quietly. II kinder reck.
oned they'd hev some sort O. guard
thar, so I crept up on the quiet ter be
sure. Tho feller helped me out bit
by strikin' q match ter sec what time
twas. or I reckon I'd q walked over
him In ther dark"
Had We better ride him DOWN."
asked. thinking only how rapidly the
night hours were speeding and OF the
importance Of the duty pressing upon
US. &c.
mot with thsr woman. SIR" he an.
swersd In low. reproachful voice;
Besides We never could git through
without shot. an II by any dern luck
IL should turn out to be Q cavalry out.
post--an' sorter reckon that's what
II is-why. our horses are In no shape
fer hard run. You uns better wait
here. SIR, an let me tend ter that soger
man quiet like, an then p'raps We uns
kin all slip by without q stirrin' up
ther patrol"
WELL" I said, reluctantly. Yield.
Ing to what I felt was doubtless the
wiser course, and mechanically grasp
Ing the rein he held out to me, go
ahead. But be careful, and don't
waste any time. II we hear the sound
OF shot We shall ride forward under
spur"
All right. sir. but therell be no
fuss. fer I know just whar ther feller
Is"
Time seems criminally long when
one Is compelled to wait In helpless
uncertainty, every nerve on strain.
Hold yourself ready for a sudden
start" I said. warningly to my com.
panion. IF there Is any noise OF a
struggle yonder I shall drive In the
spurs"
AS I spoke swung the sergeant's
horse around to my side. where I
could control him more readily. 81
There was no reply from the wom-
an, but noticed she endeavored to
draw together the tapping cape Of
her cloak. as though she felt chilled
by the wind and her figure seemed to
stiffen In the saddle.
IL came at last-not the sharp Hash
OF a musket cleaving the night In
twain, but merely the tall figure OF
the sergeant, stealing silently out Of
the gloom like a black ghost, and
standing ut our very horses heads.
"All clear. sir" he reported In a
matter.of-fact tone. But we shall
hev ter move mighty quiet, fer ther
main picket post amt more nor q
hundred yards ter the right o. ther
crossln'."
He did not remount. but. with reins
flung loosely over his arm. led tho
way slowly forward. and carefully wo
followed him.
What had become Of the sentinel
did not know. respecting Craig's evi.
dent dcs're for silence: but as We
drew nearer the White Briar road !
sought In vain to pierce the dense
gloom and note some sign OF strug.
gle. some darker shadow where q
body might be lying. There was moth
Ing visible to tell the story.
The sergeant walked without the
least hesitation across the open space,
directly into the deep shadows oppo-
site. where the cross.road continued
10 hold way. Crouching low in the
saddle. We followed him as silently
as though we were but spirits OF the
night. Up the road caught the red
gleam OF a are almost spent. and q
black figure crossed us. casting an odd
shadow against the face Of the rock
where IL was lighted by the fickering
red blaze. II was all over I'm q mo-
ment. a mere glimpse, but II formed
one OF those sudden pictures which
paint themselves on the brain and
can never after be effaced. recall
yet the long shade cast by the mans
gun. the grotesque shape OF mis- flap
ping army overcoat. the quick change
In the silhouette as he wheeled to re-
trace HIS beat. But there was no
noise. not even the sound OF his foot
steps. reaching us. Even as gazed,
lying open at full length upon my
horse. We had crossed the open. and a
perfect tsngle OF low bushes hid us
as completely as II We had entered the