The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-01-03
alI the good fortune could aver hops


all the good fortune l could ever hope
for. n 40 "a ~ gIf /.
But despair was never for long my
comrade, and I had, learned how de-
termination opens doors to the courar
geous--it Is ever no who tries that en-
ters in. II took me ten minutes. pos
sibly. creeping much Of the way like
Z Wild animal over the rocks. but at
the end Of that time had attained q
position well within the dense thicket.
and could observe clearly the ground
before mo and some OF The obstacles
to DO overcome.
AZ l supposed. It was cavalry out
post; l could distinguish the crossed
sabers ON the caps OF the men, al
though It was some time before l was
able TO determine positively where
their horses were picketed. There
must have been all OF twenty In the
party. and could distinguish the lieu
tenant In command. middle-aged
man with light-oolored chin beard.
seated by himself against the wall OF
small shanty OF logs. pipe In his
mouth and an open book upon his
knee. His men were gathered close
about the blazing IRE, for the night
air was decidedly chill as It swept
down the valley, number were
sleeping. q few ~ oasds. while little
group. sitting with their backs to-
ward me, yet almost within reach OF
my hand. were idly smoking and dis
cussing the floating rumors OF the
camp, managed to make out dimly
the figure OF 4 man on horseback be-
You'd the range OF flame, and appaf-
entity upon the very bank of the
stream. when some words spoken By
an old gray-beared sergeant interested
me. sgt scsr ~ aha
Bob" he said TO the soldier loung-
Ing next him. "whut wus II thet stan
oficer sed ter Their leftenanti l didn't
just git ther straight OF H.
The man. a debonair youg fellow.
stroked his little black mustaches re-
fectively.
"Ther cove sed as how Coles d.
vision wud DO along here afore day
light. an tibet our felIers wud likely
be sent out ahead OF en-"
.whar be they goin'i"
The leftenant asked him. an the
cove sed as Il wus a gineraI advance
to meet OIL Hancock at Minersville-"
"Thet's good 'nough, lads" chimed
in the sergeant. slapping bis knee. II
means dance down the valley after
Early. I'm a guessin' we'll have .
bang-up oil nght fore three days
more" d
"Pervidin' alters tibet Their Johnniss
don't skedaddle fust," commented an
other, tartly. "whut In thunder 10
Their matter with them hosses?" he
asked suddenly. rising and psering
over into the bushes beyond the hut,
where a noise Of squealing and kick
ing had arisen. M
"oh. the bay ally Is probably over
the rope agin." returned the ser
geant, laziiy. sit down, Sims. an be
easy: you're not on boss guard ter
night"
II know thet." growled the soldier.
doubtfully. but tibet thar kid is no
good, an don't want my boss all
banged up Just as we're goin' on
campaign. 'Tain't no sorter way ter
hitch EN- anyhow, TO picket rope;
ruins moro bosses than Their Rebs
dew" esss y, 82
This gave ne inspisation. and be
fore the speakers Aallan BreNi haA
wholly ceased I was again upon HANDS
and knees. siieatly groDing my way
along the bank toward the rear OF the
hut. II proved 70 b . tiny structure.
containing but Z sinU1e roou--prob-
ably q mere 1sherman's shack. with
out windows. but possessing = door
at either end. Meeting no opposition
crept within. where felt some
what safer from observation. and then
pSered warily forth into the darkness
extending between 1t and the river.
~ pickstrcpe stretched from one
oSsAsr Of the nut. where II seemed 10
be secured around the end Of pro
5on1sng log, ct into the night. evi-
den11v finding IT. other terminus at .
Dig tree whose spreading top could
dimly perceive Swallowed against the
sky. Along II were tethered the
horses, few irnpatiently champins
their bits and pounding with their
hoofs on the trampled ground. but the
majority resting quietly. their heads
hanging sleepily down. The one near
Test me appeared finely proportioneo
animal OF q dark oolor, and was
equipped with both saddle and bride
OF the soldisr In charge I could dis
tinguish nothing-doubtless he was
lounging on his back. hall asleep upon
some soft patch Of grass.
I turned when 1t suddenly occurred
| to me that the deserted hut might
contain something could use to ad
vantage firearm, perhaps, or ever
q stray box OF matches. l felt about
me cautiously, creeping along the
hard earthen floor until had nearly
reached the opposite entrance. The
light from the IRE without leaped up
and It's glow revealed saddle, witt
leather holster attached. hanging e
/ q nail Just within the doorway. NOV