The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-19

\ scnemeS tnrOnged into my brain, only
TO be cast aside, one after another, as
thoroughly impracticable.
I'VE shall have to make a dash for
1t, and trust In God," said Cation,
| guessing at my dilemma.
NO" answered firmly, there
would be no possibility of success in
such Course. Those fellows are old
hands, and have pickets out. See
Cation, that is certainly a picket-fire
yonder where the road dips. Every
man OF us would be shot down before
we penetrated those guard lines and
attained the house. We have got to
reach their inner line some way
through strategy, and even then must
risk being fired upon by our own peo-
pie before We get within cover"
Even as was speaking I evolved a
plan of Acknowledgment 1t certainly
was, yet nothing better occurred to
me. and time was golden.
"Ebers." said, didn't see an ex-
ira Jacket strapped back of your sad
dle?"
at Is no good" he protested ve-
hemently. 1T vos for der rain come"
"All right; hand It over to the Lieu
tenant here. Cation, throw that uni
form coat OF yours into the ditch and
don honest gray for once. Sands,
come here. Take your knife and cut
away every symbol of rank on my
Jacket; tear 1t of, any way you can"
In another moment these necessary
changes had been accomplished.
Now" ordered. "pile your sabers
there with mine beside the road; then
hobble your horses. all but the mule;
| shall want him"
Does we 60 der rest of der way on
foot?" questioned the Sergeant, anx-
iously.
Certainly; and I desire you to re-
member one important thing: let me
do the talking. but II any of you are
asked questions, We are deserters from
Hills corps, tired OF the war"
"Mein Gott!" muttered the German,
disconsolately. II hope IL vos not long
on. Captain; am no good on foot IN
der dark, by Chiminy"
"You had better manage to keep up
tonight, unless you are seeking to
commit suicide. Now. men, mark me
carefully! Load your carbines. Are
you all ready? Sergeant, see that each
man has his gun properly charged and
capped. You are to carry your arms
as thoroughly concealed as possible;
keep close to me always: obey my or
ders instantly, and to the letter. We
are but twenty men pitted against
over two hundred, remember, and
when We strike. It must be both quick
and hard"
1 mounted the mule, counted the
dim figures In the darkness, and then
gave the order to march. As we
moved slowly down the hill was
aware that Cation walked upon one
side OF me, while Bungay plodded
along upon the other; but my mind
was so filled with the excitement OF
our adventure and all that depended
upon Its successful elimination, as
scarcely to realize anything other than
the part must personally play. Good
fortune and audacity alone could COM
bine to win the game We were now en-.
gagged upon.
tall heavily beared mountaineer
stood squarely in the middle of the
road to the north of the picketfire.
l could make out but little OF him as
the light shone. excepting that he
wore a high coonskin cap and bore q
long rife.
Stop right thar" he called out
hoarsely. upon hearing us. "Who are
you uns?"
AS he challenged, q dozen others
sprang up from about the flame and,
guns In hand. came toward us on a
run.
We uns are doggoned tired O. SOL
dierin', an gittin' nuthin' fer It,"
said In the slow Southern drawl, "an'
wanter jine yer gang. pervidin' thar's
any show fer It,"
How many are ye!" asked one OF
the newcomers. striding forward be-
tween us and the sentry.
"A right smart heap o. q bunch; bin
pickin' o. em up ever since we left
Charlotte" returned evasively.
They be dandies ter fight, an
reckon as how ye kin use 'em, can't
ye?"
Maybe; who did ye want ter see?"
Wal. they sed as how a feller
named Lowrie wus a runnin' this yere
gang, an II thet's ther way o. 1t,
reckon as how It's Lowrie we're after.
Be you Lowrie?"
Nav"
The answer was SO gruff and short,
and the fellow hesitated so long In
adding anything to 1t, began to think
1t was all OF.
Wal" he consented to say at last,
ungraciously. thar's blame pile o.
ye kim In lately. an I calculate we got
bout 'nough fer our business. but I
reckon as how Red will use ye some