The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-08-26


one man and one woman. r
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed. and with the dreams
came the desire for sleep. the cry OF
nature for rest. IGracia stirred, then
spoke softly to him. calling him by
name, and her voice was as music
far away.
When she awoke and found him nod.
ding Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re-
freshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling. but Bud could hardly see.
The long watching by night and by day
had left his eyes bloodshot and awol-
len. with lids that dropped in spite of
him. II he did not sleep now he
might doze in the saddle later. or ride
blindly into some rebel camp; SO he
made her promise to call him and lay
down to rest until dark
The stars were all out when he
awoke. startled by her hand on his
hair. but sho reassurcd him. with
word and led him up the hill to their
lookout. 1t was then that he under
stood her silence. In the brief hours
during which he had slept the de.
serted country seemed suddenly to
have come to life.
By daylight there had bec7 nothing
to suggest thu presence OF men.
But now as tho velvet night set
tied down upon the land 1t brought
out the glimmerIng epccks Of hun.
dred camp-fires to tho east ano to the
north. But the fires to which Gracia
pointed were set fairly in their trail.
and they barred the way to Gadsden.
Look" che said. II did not want
to wake you. but the fires have sprung
up everywhere. These last ones are
right in the pass"
when did you see them?" asked
Hooker, his head still heavy with
sleep. Have they been there long?"
mo; only few minutes" she an
swercd. "At sundown saw those over
to the east--they are along the base
of that big black mountain but these
flashed UP just now: ai:.. sec, ttero
are more. and more!"
Some outfit coming in from the
north" said Bud. They've crossed
over the pass and camped at the first
water this side.'
who do you think they are?' asked
Gracfa in an awed voice. "Insurrec.
tos?" 49, a.
Like as not" muttered Bud. gazing
from encampment to encampment.
but whoever they are," he added.
they're no friends of ours. We've got
to go around them."
And If wo can't?" suggested Ora
cia. it,io
Il reckon we'll have to go through,
then" answered Hooker grimly. I'VE
don't wan. to get caught here in the
morning" t
e"Rido right through their ca1up?"
gasped Gracia.
LET the sentrIes get to Sleep" he
went on. half to himself. "Then. just
before the moon comes up. we'll try to
edge around them. and IL 1t comes to
showdown. we'll ride for It! Are
you gamer"
He turned 70 read the answer. and
she drew herself up proudly.
Try mel" she challenged. drawing
nearer to him In the darkness. And 30
they stood, side by eide, while their
hands clasped in promise. Then. as
the night grew darker and no new
fires appeared, HookAr saddled up the
wellfed horses and tley picbed their
way down to the trail
The first fres were far ahead. but
they proceeded at walk, their horses
feet falling silently upon the sodden
ground. Not word WIS spoken and
they halted often to listen, for others,
too, might be abroad. The distant
fires were dying now, except few
where men rose to feed them.
The braying Of burros came in from
the fats to the right and as the fugi-
tives drew near the frst encampment
they could hear tho voices OF the night
guards <as they rode about the horse
herd. Then. as they waited impatient
ly. the watch.fres died down, the
guards no longer sang their high fall
setto, and even the burroB were still.
This was their opportunity. u they
were to get through that line of sleep
Ing men II must be- done by stealth.
Should they be discovered it would
mean one man against an army to
protect the woman, and the odds. great
as they we're, must be taken ii need
be. ~ sses $50 !;
It was approaching the hour Of, mid.
night, and as their horses twitohed raE-
lively Mt the bits they gave them the
rein and rode ahead at q venture.
'At their left the last efnbers OF the
fires revealed the sieeping forms iof
men; to their right. somewhere: ip the
darkness. WIS the night herd and tie
herders. They lay low on their horses