The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-09-28
CHAPTER XVII

To Harry and Dave. Dane Grey's
absence was merely n mystery-tO
Erskine IL brought forcboding and
sickening fear General Dale's wound
having opened afresh. made travelling
impossible. and Harry had n slight
bayonet thrust In the shoulder Frs
kline determined to save them all the
worry possible and tn act now as the
head of the family himself He an
nounced that he must go straight
back at once to Kentucky and Cap
tain Clark. Harry stormed unavail-
lngly and General Dale pleaded with
him To stay, but gave reluctant leave.
To Dave he told his fears and Dave
vehemently declared he. too. would go
along. but Erskine would not hear of
II and set forth alone.
Slowly enough he started. but with
every mile suspicion and fear grew
the faster and he quickened Firefiy's
pace. The distance to Williamsburg
was soon covered. and skirting the
town. he went on swiftly for Red
Oaks. suppose he were too late, but
!
should he do, what could he do? Fire
fly was sweeping into, little hollow
now. and above the beating of her
hoofs in the sandy road. clink of
metal reached his ears beyond the
low hill ahead. and Erskine swerved
aside into the bushes. Some one was
coming. and apparently out of the red
ball of the sun hanging over that hill
|. spptng horseman at dead run
Slack Ephraim.
stop" Erskine cried. but the ne
gro came laundering on. as though
he meant to ride down anything In
his way. Firehy swerved aside. and
Ephraim shot by. pulling in with both
hands and shouting "NIsrse Erskine
Yassuh yassuh Thank Gawd you'se
come" When he wheeled he came
back at gallop-nor did he stop.
Come on. Marse Erskine." he cried.
"No time to waste. Come on, sub !"
With few leaps Firetiy was
abreast. and neck and neck they ran.
while the darky's every word con
firmed the instinct and reason that
had led Erskine where he was
"Yassuh, Miss Barbary gwine to
run away wild dat mean white man.
Yassuh, dis very night"
when did he get here?'
dis mawnin'. He been pesterin'
her an pleadin' wild her all day an
she been cryin' her heart out, but
nanny say she's gwine wild him.
Pears like she can't hep herself"
as he aloneT"
"No, sub, he got an OFFICER an four
sojers wild him."
How did they get away?"
"lIe say as how dey was on scout
In party. an 'scap%d."
docs he know that CORVALLIS has
surrenderedY"
"Oh, yassuh. he toll Miss Barbary
dat. OATS why he says he got To git
away right now an she got to go wild
him right now"
did he say anything about General
Dale and Mr.. Harry
"Yassuh. he say dat dey's all right
an dat dey an you will be hot on his
tracks. OATS why nanny toll me to
ride like de debbil an hurry YOU on,
sub. Dis afternoon" the negro went
On, 'he went ovah to dat cabin | toll
you bout an got dat American uni
form. He gwine to tell folks on de
way dat dem udders il his prisoners
an he takin' dem to Richmond. Den
dey gwine to separate an he an Miss
Barbnry gwine 10 git married some
whur on de way an det gOin' ON an
sail fer England, fer he say If he git
captured folks'll won't let him be
prisoner a. war-dey1l jes up AN
shoot him. An dat skeer Miss Bar
barry mos To death an hep make her
90 wild him. Nanny heah'd ever
word dey say"
Erskine'S brain was working fast,
but no plan would come. They would
he six against him. but no matter-he
urged Firehy ON. The red ball from
which Ephraim had leaped had gone
down now. The chill autumn dark
ness was settling, but the moon was
rising full and glorious over the black
expanse of trees when the lights of
Red Oaks first twinkled ahead.
The negro turned from the road
through gate. and Erskine heard
the thud of his horses hoofs across
the meadow turf. lie rode On slow
~, hitched Firehy as close 10 the edge
of the road ms was safe, aud crept to
the edge of the garden, where he
could peer through the hedge. The