Askov American., 1915-10-14

here.
We sat there for half an hour dis
cussing the matter and endeavoring
to convince ourselves the danger was
less than we imagined. There was
nothing to be done but wait for day
light. Finally Fox crept forth again
to make another round OF the pickets.
to assure himself they were alert, and
before he returned had fallen asleep.
The chill OF the night awoke me-
cold and shivering. The wind had
arisen and swept down the funnel In
which lay with an Icy breath against
which my single blanket afforded no
protection. The man who had been
lying next me was gone. and so there
must have been q change OF guard
while slept. ] could distinguish.
dimly outlined against the sky. the
overhanging rock-wall which inclosed
our camp, and the deeper shade OF q
cleft yard or two to my left. where
the dead trunk OF tree stood like
a gaunt. ugly sentinel.
An ! lay staring the figure OF a man
slipped out from behind It's protec-
tion and, dropping on hands and
knees, crept forward across the open
space. Another and another followed.
mere ghostlike shadows. scarcely ap-
pearing real. For the instant doubt.
cd my eyesight. imagined ! dreamed
Then, before could raise voice In
alarm. rife spat yiciously, the red
flame OF Its discharge cleaving the
night A fusillade followed and in the
fare ! caught grotesque glimpses Of
men leaping forward, and there was
a confused yelling Of voices. din OF
noise.
was upon my knees. revolver In
hand, but In the melee below could
not distinguish friend from foe-alike
they were a blur OF figures, one In.
stant visible. the next obscured. Yet
there could be no doubt az to the final
ending OF the struggle. Taken by sur
prise. outnumbered. the little squad OF
troopers would be crushed, annihilat-
ed Nor was there reason why I
should sacrifice myself In their defense
"a valueless sacrifice. My choice was
Instantly made. as there flashed to my
mind what my fate would be II ]
ever fell into Cowan's hands attired In
Federal uniform.
On hands and knees crept to the
cleft In the rock wall and began to
Chamber up over the irregular rocks
The shouts and yells. the cries for
mercy. the sound OF blows. grew faint.
er and finally ceased altogether. Lean.
Ing back and looking down could per.
ce!-a nothing In the black void. A
voice shouted an order. but II sounded
far of and indistinct was In a
narrow gully. the incline less steep
than amid the rocks below. and could
perceive the lighter canopy of the sky
not far above me
Az I crept out into the open space
someone touched match to pile Of
dry limbs In the cove below, and the
red flames leaped high. revealing the
scene. l caught a glimpse Of it
staring down ms though chung ut the
mouth Of hell. seeing moving black
figures, and the dark. motionless
shadows of dead men, The one
glimpse was enough. the fearful
tragedy Of II shifting the like . blow.
and turned and ran. stumbling over
the rough ground. my only thought
that OF escape.
There were stars In the sky. their
dim light sufficient to yield some faint
guidance. My course led me close
beside the edge Of the ridge. Here
the ground fell away to the banks OF
shallow stream and some instinct OF
woodcraft led me to wade down with
itn current for considerable distance.
until the Icy water drove me to the
bank once more. l knew | had GOV,
cred several miles and was beyond pur.
suit and ss.fe from discovery. 4 re.
mained there until dawn. the tirst
gray light giving assurance that my
flight had been to the north along the
foothills. From the ridge top . wide
vista lay revealed Of rough. seeming
ly uninhabited country. growing more
| distinct as the light strengthened
There was no house visible. no sign ol
A
any road: all about extended rude
| mountain solitude. but to the north
west there was q perceptible break IN
the chain OF hills, as though a pase let
down into the concealed valley be
| yond, With this for guidance
plunged forward. eager to set out o
that drear wilderness,
II was considerably after the moor
hour before came upon . disma
shack OF logs In the midst Of small
clearing. The light streaming Ii
through the open door revealed that I
was unoccupied Yet someone hs,
Ebeen there. and not 10 very long ago
for there we're scraps OF food on On,
Of tha overturned boxes, unappetiz
inx - these appeared. I sat down al,
ate heartily. then got TO my feet and
closing the door securely behind me
plowed through the tangle OF weed
back 10 the roSd.
Just before sundown emerged frou
the narrow gap and looked down int
the broad valley OF the Green Hrial
| II was scene to linger In the mem
ory. and at my hrst glance | kne,
| where was. recognising the familia
objects outspread before me. Lewis
burg Law heyund n sDur al hills tnvis