The Holly chieftain., 1916-05-05

down ter the crick. Thar couldn't
nobody cum up 1t without yer seem
'em from here"
"And 80 You think they're down
there yet!"
Sure; less they got wings they
couldn't Q come up no other way"
The lieutenant strobe forward. and
grasped the rein of the horse. ] could
see him clearly now. the moonlight on
his upturned face.
Then we've got them. ali right" he
asserted. . new confidence In his voice.
"You know the way down. don't you.
Kelly?"
Hell. yes: l hid out thar fer six
weeks onct They call 1t the Devils
glen. an reckon tain't . bad name
neither"
"All right then; I've got three men
here who'll go with you. That will
be enough. Ill stay up here. 30 il the
fellow slips by I'll nab him. Jones'
all Of you come here. Come. Kelly.
there's . hundred dollars in this fof
you"
by God! It's worth 1t. fer some
body's liable ter get shot," He rolled
out of the saddle. but with evident re.
luctance Il reckon Ill let one o. them
sojers 60 ahead. Yer must want thes
Reb powerful bad. leftenant?"
Il do" grimly. dead or alive"
Three other figures joined them;
they were on foot, but could see the
guns in their hands. and the CLEAN Of
buttons in the moonlight. Raymond
spoke swiftly. pointing with one hand.
but his voice was lowered SO the words
did not reach me. No doubt he was
briefly explaining the plan, and giving
orders. Kelly added gruff sentence.
and then the whole five tramped past
me, the lieutenant leading the horse,
and Kelly coming SO close to where !
lay could have touched him with an
extended hand. Scarcely venturing to
breathe watched their passage along
the edge of the bluff. until they halted
at the point where l had come up the
trail. They remained grouped there
for q moment, talking earnestly: then
the shadow formed distintegrated. and
RAYMOND and the horse alone re-
mained distinguishable. l knew the
others had disappeared in the black
ness of the ravine, and that they were
destined to search its depths in vain.
for what little trail might have left
in my crawl upward could never be
deciphered in that darkness. waited
motionless for what believed to be
ten minutes, anxious that the fellows
get far enough down to be safely be-
yond earshot. At first l could hear
them slipping and stumbling along the
steep, stony path, but these sounds
grew fainter and finally ceased. The
lieutenant led the horse back q few
yards, and fastened his rein securely
to the limb of tree; then took his
own position within the brush shadow.
where he could watch the head of the
trail. From where crouched could
no longer see the fellow.
had no thought of going on and
leaving him there on guard. Not only
did feel an overwhelming desire to
POAA6A LAC udu III Lib tACdCuC1y anu
insolence, but wished to gain posses
sion of the horse. Such an opportunity
as this was the gift of God, and was
only too eager to accept it. The wide
plain in front of us was deserted, the
cavalry troop having disappeared. The
glare Of torches had disappeared from
within the church, which was now
mere shapeless shadow in the moon.
light. My vision did not extend to the
road in front, but there were sounds
indicating that the Federal forces
were either going into camp, or pre-
pairing to resume their march. Salts
fed that my own way was clear.
crawled out to the edge of the line of
brush. and arose silently to my feet
To reach Raymond would have to
pass where the horse was tied, and to
approach on hands and knees would
be liable to frighten the animal. Trust
ing that the heutenant's whole atten.
ton would be devoted to the trail, and
that he would anticipate no approach
from behind, walked straight forward
and laid hand on the horses head. He
smelt of me curiously. but made no
noise, and, looking across his back.
could dimly perceive the man few
PAGES beyond. He stood erect. his
back towards me. perfectly motionless.
his entire consciousness concentrated
on his guard. l stole forward step by
step, noiselessly. was actually with.
in reach Of him before some sense told