Year: 1862




shadow Of the trees, lest even the feeble star
light should reveal his presence, he reached
the summit and flung himself upon the grass.
Beneath him lay the white tents Of the enemy,
clustering around the ruins Of the homestead.
A quick glance showed hin that no reinforce
ments had, as yet, reached them, and with
almost as much pleasure he saw their number
was not diminished. If any change there had
been, aRincrease Of the foe would have better
suited his humOr. Not q man less; for the
vengeance that fred his heart burned to strike
a blow never to be forgotten.


y The outlying pickets passed close to the spot
where be lay concealed, and as a surprise was
intended, he bent his mind to the task Of dis
posing Of them. LaEily walking to and fro,
peering now and then out into the night, the
rebel sentry thought Of his southern home,
heedless OF the danger which crouched at his
very feet. Vita such men a. Hardy, action
fellows thought as the. thunder belches from
the storm-cloud right over head when the swift
lightning eleayes its way to earth; 50 quickly
does the one follow the other that they seem
Simultaneous. -.


The sentry came forward, humming IN air
learned in the cotton fields of his own native
State. sharp noise, as of footstep on a rot
ten stick, startled him; but before he could
give an alarm or call for help, the hot breath
Of an enemy was upon his cheek, and his throat
wss grasped by the sinewy hand Of the scout
The struggle was brief At all times it was
not easy to find Hardy's match, and now,
standing in sight of his ruined home, the re-
OF giant. There was wild striking out Of
the arms, clawing of the hands, q blackening
of the face, horrible even in the starlight,
until the knees gave way, and the picket fell
lifeless body upon the sward.


Not ray Of pity, not pang Of regret fell
upon the heart Of the scout. To him it mat
tered nothing that this picket had done him no
harm. vision of a aouth haa M A a.
olate, or Of the long agony he had prepared for
some aching heart because he did not come,
moved him. Apart from his duty to the little
band who waited his guidance, the sight of the
low chimney stack, standing solitary guard
ian over the ashes of his home, not only
strengthened his arm, but repelled all sympa-
thy with the enemy as a weakness to be swiftly
trodden under foot. To him they were all
alike. Did not the flames of his house light up
q strange banner, and did not that same ban
ner wave above the encampment so quiet be-
low All alike. all alike to the man-no, not
all; one stood out among the throng. When
Burton meets this victim Of his in the coming
struggle, it were well he were shriven before
the fight, for Hardy has special VOW Of ven
gesnce against him, and will execute it at all
risks.


The scout carefully drew the body of the
poer wretch out Of the path, and seizing his
musket, while he put his trusty rife in a safe
place, boldly took up the dead mans beat.
lime was flying fast; the morning would soon
break, and he must needs hurry his movements;
so, taking as near as possible the gait Of the
picket he had slain, he walked towards his
comrade. The darkness Of the night favored
his disguise, and the other met him without
suspicion. Hardy clutehea at him with his
LETT hand, while he made a swift movement
with his night. There was gurgling in the
throat, tide Of warm blood gushed out and
formed pool at his feet, and the second
picket had started on bis last journey.


So far the way was clear. What obstruction
might be upon the hillside, he did not know
nor care; once get the men upon the summit
unobserved, and all was safe. Turning hasti-
1y, stopping only to pick up his rife and listen
lest the struggles in which he had been en-
gagged should have disturbed the quiet of the
camp, he passed with quick steps down the
slope, and put himself by the colonePs side at
the head Of the detachment.


The men lost all sense of weariness as they
advanced up the hill. But for the order for
perfect silence, they would have given cheer
upon cheer, SO eager were they for the fray
As il was, they pushed on vigorously, dragging
the mountain hOwitEers which accompanied
their march as easily as though they were some
chlld's toys they handled, and very soon
reached the top Of the assent. Here resting
for q moment to take breath and find proper
positions for their " bulldogs" as they called
the hoUitzers, the little band neryed them
selves for the work before them


The gray dawn was already breaking in the
east, paling the stars nearest the horizon, as
Hardy pointed out to the colonel the arrange
ment ofthe enemy.


" You kin take 'em front, kurnel, and your
chance is main good; bu. spose you'll make
1t sure by danking the devils, :" limiting rather
than advising the movement.


See, he continued, pointing with his long
bony fingers, there's the boys from South
Car'lina right opposite; the Arkansaw men lie
BY yon ehimnsy-stsck. Ef mought, I'd ask
sfayor before the fighting begins" said the


"Spesk it freely, Hardy" said the colonel,
kindly, with an anxious look the while at the
Frightening east.


"Tain't long one," said Hardy, who had
caught the movement of the coloneps eve.
land the boys II be better for getting their
wind; fou know, nebbe, had a home about
hsre!"


The colonel nodded assent Something in
the scouts face made words needless.


This was my farm, and that chimney yon-
der Is all that's left Of the old house. DON'T be
afraid, kurneL amt going to tell long
story. Not that it's going to be forgotten, but
snan 9 taik about 1t I'm satisfied if we only
clean out that hornets nest down thar and
thought, seein' as know the old place so we'll,
could pilot couple Of hundred % as to take
'sm behind"


You shall have them, Hardy, " said the col.
onel, sending an aid at onse with orders for
detailing the necessary number "


The scout looked on with eager eyes 0And
now. kernel, " he said. barring his head. and
pushing back the thin hair which strar0Ied
over his forehead, stretching out his hand at
the same time to the officer 81 mou9ht AZ
well say 'gosd-by.' My works most done, and
ef / don't come out of this skrimmage, tell the
gineral how glad am he trusted me this once.
You're goin' to fax EN- out, kurnel, and the
quicker the better, for mornin's comm on -
and he wrung his hands with a will.


Hardy led his two hundred men quickly
away along the top Of the hill till he reached
deep gorge, now dry, but in the rainy season
the bed Of hillside stream, which foaned and
fretted In Its course as though no stop could be
put to its rayages. In this they turned, and,
trusting TO the morning gloom, made the cir way
TO the back Of the camp.


The main body felt their way down the hill
side. Ii was not exactly the place for company
movements, and drill-sergeant would hardly
have approved the irregularity of the parch