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i ?tchmnn ano tm KB* SUMTER WATCHMAN, Kttablished April, 1850. flKso?idat?di.u?. 2,1881. "Be Just and J^ear not-Let alllthe Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone, 1366 SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1894. New Series-Yoi. XIII. No. 36. ~ On approaching the Douse ?Baria caught sight of the horses and men ac realized what bad happened and wi happening before she had made ont tl figure of the loyal old slave chained t the post ?ne had felt terribly anxiot about her mother as she came along th road, and she had grown faint atthougl of the troubles and perils surroondin her, bat everything was forgotten th instant she saw that circle of men. J was no wonder every man in the gan looked at her as if spellbound when sh suddenly appeared in their midst an cried out to stop ike Baxter's uplifte arm. As women despise cowardice i a man, so do men admire anything aj preaching heroism in a woman. Max ian rested one hand on the naked shoal der of the old slave who had trotted be on his knee as a child a thousand times and holding the revolver ready for in atant use in the other, ber slight fon drawn up, her brown eyes flashing, he handsome face handsomer than ever be fore, she demanded: " Who are you, and what is the mean , ing of this?" Every man instinctively fell back t step or two. Ike Baxter let his arm fall and no one dared look the gill full ii the face. For a long half minute ni one spoke. Then Ike, shifting from om foot to the other and looking past be: instead of at her, muttered : "We uns cum yere to captur' tha cussed Yankee and pay this nigger of fur sm ash in my bead last night!" " Yes, that's what we uns cum fur!' added two or three others. Marian deposited her weapon on th? ground and proceeded to cast off tb? chain by which Unele Ben was secured to the post. Some of the men crowded a little nearer, and some muttered and cursed, but no one interfered. When tho slave was free, she signed to him tc put cn his garments, picked hp the weapon, and sweeping her eyes around the circle she said: " You speak of capturing a Yankee. Who is be-where is be?" "Yo* know who we mean, " replied Ike Baxter, who was recovering his as? surance sooner than the others. "We uns want Kenton, that cussed Yankee spy!" 44Aye, he un's the man!" growled three or four others. 44And you call him a Yankee-you, Ike Baxter!" she replied as she stepped forward to face bim. "He enlisted when you did. He fought when you ran away, fie has encountered a score of dangers to your one. fie bas done more for tho cause of the south than all of you combined. When you call bim a Yankee spy, I call you a cur. and a coward, and a disgrace to the uniform you wear!" CHAPTER XXVI. The gang had gono far enough-per? haps too far. Tho Percys were loyal southerners and people of influence, and this disgraceful raid, even though made under a reasonable pretext, might be sternly rebuked by higher authorities. Those in citizens* dress were no better than prowlers; those in uniform had no authority beyond what Ike Baxter as? sumed. As Marian stood facing the crowd, her face expressing the contempt she felt and her eyes flashing a menace from man t*f> man, they began to fall back toward the horses. 4'Dod rot my skin, but why didn't 1 kill that cussed nigger when I had a chance?" growled Ike Baxter. 44 Ar' yo' all goin to let that gal stand ns off in this way? If she un's hidin that Yan? kee, then ber's a sympathizer and orter suffer fur it! I move we shoot the nig? ger and bum the houses!" 4'We uns won't do anything of the sort," said the sergeant, now pushing forward for the first time. "We uns was sent yere to captur' Kenton and Brayton, and I reckon t'other things bad better be left alone. If that gal . wasn't in the house when yo* all search? ed it, then wbar did she cum from?" One of the men replied that he thought he bad caught sight of her up the road about five minutes before she appeared among them, but wasn't sure. Ike Bax? ter said he bad been following Uncle Ben up the highway when assaulted, and it was rightfully concluded that the fugitives were not a great way off. Just then they were joined by three more guerrillas, and the entire gang headed up the road and were soon out of sight. As they moved away Uncle Ben's tears began to fall, .ind he whis? pered: 44 God bress yo', Miss Sunshine, f ure ber an fureber fur what yo* dun did fur me, but I'ze got powerful bad news to tell yo'!" 44Is mother dead?" she asked as tbe color went out of her face and her lips grew white. *4She was dead when I dun got yere!" 4'Uncle Ben," whispered the girl, choking back the wails of sorrow which sought to pass her lips, -"I know you are st** ff and lame and sore? but I want you to try to reach the Federal army and bring help!" "I hain't burred much-only jest a leetle bit-an I'll start right off !" he answered. "I'll go, an I'll keep gwine till I drap down in my tracks!" 44God grant that you may be in time!" she prayed as she turned away to enter the house of the dead, while the old man lost not a moment in setting out on his journey down the road. Let us see how things went on at the camp. Marian had no sooner left it than Steve Brayton still farther strengthened the defenses. The g?pund t?~fbe south "was fairly clear for charge, bat in no other direction coal a body of men make a rush. The cam was on the crest of a knoll? and no spc within rifle shot commanded it. "I rigger jest this way," said Ste? as he overhauled the ammunition an saw that both gnus were ready for sen j ice-"that Ike Baxter was sent dow i to the house last night to sorter sp around far Captain Wyle. Uncle Be didn't smash him hard 'naff, and he a: crawled back to the boase, got his wif to fix him ap and then skulked off. don't reckon he an had far to go. It' party shore that some of oar compan; will show ap doorin the day, and ye kin bet yo'r last mewl that them goer lilias hain't given np the chase! Befe noon snnthin's bound to bast!" "And what wocld yon advise?" aske< Kenton, seeing that Steve was in doab ; about something. "Seems to me the situation is abo a as foilers," replied Steve. "We ar both Confederates. We've fit in severa battles. We've bin captured and go away. We've pat in a heap o' tim? chawin ap mighty pore rations anc marcbin up and down the kentry t< prove oar patriotism. Do yo' folter?' "Yes." "That's one side. Now the other i that a sartin gal laved yo' better'n sh? did Captain Wyle, and far that reasoi he an has bin tryin to git shet o' yo' bj fa'r means or fonl. He's got the whip saw on yo' and means to hold it. Tf h< gits hold o' yo', snnthin's goin to hap? pen, and yo'll be tfie one to be hart. With that major down on yo' aboat th< Harrison borg font, and with Ike Bartel and half a dozen others ready to sw'ai to anything the captain wants, yo' ni won't stand no mo' show than a coos cotcbed in a co'ncrib. Am I right?" "Yes, that's about the way of it, bul what about yon? You have been my friend and comrade from the start. Yon hare periled your life to save mine. J owe yon a debt of gratitude, and I don't want yon to sacrifice yourself for my sake. They have nothing against you which will not be overlooked. They want to get me ont of the way, and there is every chance that they will ac? complish theil object 1 would be self? ish to pall yoa down with me after what yon have done." "And what?" queried Steve. "Give me one of the guns, prop rae np over there, and then go! I'll die right here after making the best fight 1 can!" "Yank," said Steve as he moved over and held oat his hand, "yo' don't begin to know Steve Brayton if yo' think he's any sich critter! I was bo'n right down thar at Winchester, and I've lived thar all my life and hated and abused Yan? kees'as hard as anybody. 1 went into the war with a whoop, and I jest be? lieved everything was plumb right and all hands roand till 1 saw bow the cap? tain and the hull company was pinyin dirt on yo'. Yo' na's Yankee bo'n, but yo's got mo' clean sand in yo'r craw than anybody lever met up with befo'! I'm goin to stick right yere. If we ans git away. Vm goin with yo'. If them guerrillas ar* too many fur us, we'll both die right yere!" Kenton protested and argued, but Steve was determined. He took a tin pail which had contained food and filled it with water at a spring not far away. Then he carefully moved Kenton over to the south side of the camp, propped him up at a loophole in a sitting posi? tion and sat down beside him to wait. "I've figgered this out a bit, " he said as he peered through his loophole for sign of danger. "If them chaps bad found yo' at the house, yo'd hev bin carried off to camp. Bein as they'll find yo' yere, and bein as thar'll be a font, thar won't be no carry in away if they git the better of ns!" ** Yoa mean they'll kill me here and have done with it?" replied Kenton. "Exactly, and me tool Then thar won't be any charges, witnesses or trial. They'll report that we fit to the last, and it will be all plain sail in far them as wants os oater the way. Thar'fore, in shoot in we'd better jest shoot to kill and git all the revenge we kin. Steady, now! I think the critters hev smelt ns oat!" Half a mile ap the road from Best Haven the gang had left their horses and divided into two parties to search the hills on each side of the highway. Steve had caught sight of two or three men moving toward the camp through the 8crab. "I won't shoot to kill-not this time!" he whispered as he thrust the barrel of the carbine through the owning. "I'll jest fling a bullet down thar to let 'em know that the Confederate Yankee army has had breakfast, pulled its boots on and is ready far bizness!" His shot was followed by a yell which announced to the other party that the fugitives had been discovered, and 10 minutes later the camp was surrounded. Among the enemy was a man who had seen Royal Kenton fall when fired upon, and it was therefore known that he was wounded. How far he was disabled, however, could only be guessed at. Steve Brayton was known to be with bim, and Steve was also known to be a fighter. It was therefore decided not to open fire until other means had been re sorted to and failed. Thirty minutes after the first appearance of the enemy a flag of truce was shown among the scrub, and the bearer cautiously ad vanced until within hailing distance. His advance was from the south side, and both men had him under their eyes. It was Ike Barter, and he halted about pistol shot away and called out: " ""Hello, np thar! I want to" speak to yo' uns 'bout a ininit!" "Waal, fire off yo'r breath!" replied Steve. "We uns has dun clean surrounded yo' uns, and yo'd better give in!" "Yes?" "If yo' uns will give in, nobody will be hurt. If yo' uns don't give in, we uns ar' bound to wipe yo' out! We uns is a hundred strong, with two cannons!" "That yo', Ike Baxter?" called Steve, as if doubting the other's identity. "Yes." "Waal, I've got my gun pinted fur a shot right betwixt yo'r doggone eyes, and if yo' hain't back thar among yo'r gang befo' I count 10 I'll pull trigger! If yo' want us, cum and git us!" Five minutes later tire was opened on the fort from all around the circle, and the enemy were shouting and cheering as if a victory bad already been nearly won. While most of their bullets flew clear over the piled up rocks, those which were better aimed did no damage whatever. Not a shot was fired in re? ply. Kenton's position caused him con si dei able pain, and Steve removed the prop from bis back and laid bim down with the remark: "They uns will keep bus tin away fur half an hour vit, and we uns kin take things easy. I reckon the firin will make the gal a hit oneasy, but it'll also hurry up the Yankees in case they ar' on the way." "That's what we must hope for, " an? swered Kenton, "but watch out that we are not taken by surprise." The firing attracted the attention of a party of seven or eight guerrillas who were hunting for the fguitives on their own account, and they came up and joined forces with the larger body. The entire force then numbered, as near as could be estimated by the firing, about 23 men. All they could hope to gain by their blazing away as they did was that a stray bullet might find a tar? ifer with thc flag of truce. get in one of the defenders, but this did not happen. After expending enough cartridges to equip a whole company for a raid tbe firing suddenly ceased. "Now, then, Yank, they all's comin to clus quarters, and I want yo'r help!" said Steve Brayton as he proceeded to raise Kenton to a sitting position and prop him up as before. "Yo' take the j shotgun. Both bar'ls ar' loaded with I buckshot, and yo* orter drap about fo' of I the critters and wing two or three mo'!*' | CHAFFER XXVn. Uncle Ben had started out bravely enough, but after be bad traveled a mile or so he found himself growing faint and weak. He was not only an old man, j but the exciting scenes through which j he bad passed in the last few hours, to- ? gether with tbe physical pain he bad j endured, were quite sufficient to tax his strength to the utmost. He fought against the feeling until at length the rocks and trees seemed to be whirling j round and round and the frozen high way to be sliding from under his feet, | and then he dropped to the earth and j gasped: "O Lawd, doan' let it cum jest yit! ? Gjve de ole man strength 'naff to reach dem Yankees, an den yo' kin take him ? away! I don can't stop yere, O Lawd! j I'ze got to keep trabblin till I finds Mars j Custer an tells him dat Miss Sunshine ? wants him!" After a rest of three or four minutes ? he rose up and moved on. He slipped j and staggered as he advanced, but he shut bis teeth bard and would not yield to the weakness seeking to pull him down. Two events happened to brace him up and restore a portion of bis j strength. He bad gone a distance of about two miles and was just passing j the cabin of a "poor white" which had j boen deserted for tbe last month when | Mrs. Baxter suddenly appeared. She had traveled two miles toward the Yan? kee lines after leaving Rest Haven in? stead of going the other way, but it was to strike a pass leading over the range info the Shenandoah. She had been waiting there in hopes to hear from Ike, who had told her that be would return for his revenge. Uncle Ben was no doubt possessed of the information she longed for, and though realizing his feelings toward her she made bold to step out and accost him. "What, yo' yere!" shouted the old man at the top of his voice as soon as he set eyes on her. "Fo' de Lawd, wom? an, Tout if I eber git hands on yo' I'll kill yo' fur shore!" "Had Ike cum when yo' left the place?" she asked, pretending not to no? tice bis outburst of anger, but at the same time preserving a respectful dis- | tance between them. "Yo' ole cat! Yo' ole she debbil!" | he exclaimed as be rushed at her. "Yo' ; am de one who brung all dis trubble to Miss Sunshine, an I'll broke ebery bone ia yo'r body!" She retreated before him and held up her hand as a caution to him to listen. The soldiers and guerrillas had begun firing on the camp. The distance was two miles or more, but the morning wind was blowing from the south, and the reports of the muskets came plainly to their ears. Both realized at once what was going on. The woman laughed as she observed: "Ike's goin to git 'em fur shore! Ike ' will be an ossifer now and ride the best I critter in the company. Reckon yo' j must 'a' bin hidin out when Iko got thar, or yo' wouldn't be yere now. He ; was goin to "born yo' un ??ive.^ The reports of the guns told Unel< Ben that the two men in camp had beei attacked, and that he had not a mc ment to waste with the woman. All hi: strength and resolution had returned and without heeding her words he start ed off at a stout pace. She felt certaii of his mission, and she was d?termin?e to detain him if possible. Mrs. Baste was not only a fearless woman onde: all circumstances, but in such a crisis as this she was desperate. If Uncle Bei brought help, all that had been gainec would be lost, and Ike might be killed or captured with the rest of the gang. She stepped aside to let the old slave pass and then followed at his heels, threatening, taunting and commanding by turns and almost daring to lay bands on him. If she had been armed with knife or pistol, she would have attacked bim at once. As she was not she con tinned to follow him in hopes of en? countering some one on the highway. If a white man, and she cried out tc him that the black had dared to raise his hand against her, Uncle Ben wonld be seized, if not shot down in his tracks. Aggravated and annoyed by the pain of the blows inflicted by Ike Baster, maddened by the woman's words and her continued presence and rendered desperate by the danger of the general situation, it was no wonder the old man suddenly turned at bay with the glare of a hunted wolf in his eyes. She was too close to him to escape. Springing forward, he seized her by the shoulders, lifted her from the ground, and with a mighty effort he flung her clear of the road. At that point the ground sloped sharply away toward a ravine, and as the woman struck the earth with stun? ning force she rolled over and over un? til she finally brought up against a bush 50 feet away. "De Lawd furgive rae, but I couldn't don help it I" groaned Uncle Ben as be continued his way. "Dey's arter Miss Sunshine, an dey's arter me, an dey's arter Mars Kenton, an de good ole mis? sus am lyin dead in de house, an what's gwine to becum of us all 1 dunno!" With eyes fastened on the pathway, with teeth hard shut, with words of prayer rising to his lips and a constant struggle against the feeling of despair seeking a lodgment in his heart, the faithful old slave pressed on, mile after mile, and soddenly found himself confronted by a party of horsemen in blue uniforms. The goal had been won, and as he realized it up went went bis arms, and he sank down on the icy road. "Runaway darky, but he isn't pur? sued that I can see, " observed the cap? tain of the troop as he ordered a ha.*. "Some of yon men liven bim np with a sip of whisky." A sergeant dismounted and put a flask to Uncle Ben's lips and forced some of the contents down his throat. In a couple of minutes the old man sat np and looked around. "Were you running away?'\ asked the captain as he rode closer. "Whar-whar's Mars Custer?" gasp? ed Uncle Ben in reply. "General Custer? Ob, he's some miles away. Did you want to see him?" "Miss Sunshine dun wants him, sah -wants him to cum quick! De gorril las an de sojers am up dar try in to burn de house an kill eberybody!" Uncle Ben was so overcome that it took 10 minutes to get his story straight. The troopers numbered only about half a company and had been sent out to in? tercept a Confederate mail courier who was expected to enter that valley through Hempstead's gap, three miles away. The captain wrote a note and sent it off to the Federal lines by cou? rier, but could do no more in the matter. Uncle Ben was given some rations to make a breakfast of, provided with a blanket by a kind hearted trooper and instructed to wait for the force which would be sure to come up within two or three hours. Let us .nticipate their coming. As the fusillade had drawn no reply from the fort, the enemy at length concluded that its defenders had been disabled. They also realized that the sounds of battle might reach Federal ears and bring up a force to the rescue, and it was therefore decided to advance upon the camp without further loss of time. As Brayton had predicted, they formed on the open ground to the south. The entire force formed in two lines for a charge, and as a movement or two showed that they were about ready to advance Steve quietly remarked: "1 dunno whar Jeff Davis bought this yere carbine, but it was a mighty cote trick in him. She's good for seven shots as fast as I kin pull trigger, and that means that sumbody's goin to git hurt. Yo' an hold yo'r buckshot till they git on this side of that bash. How yo' feel in, Yank?" "All right." "Of co'8e yo' ar'. Yo' ar' lookin jest as natural as an ole hat! Yere they cam!" With a choros of yells that would have done credit to a war party of Paw? nees, the enemy broke cover and ad? vanced at a run. They were hardly in the open before Steve began blazing away. His fire was fast and deadly, but it did not check them. It was only when Kenton, who was coolly waiting for them to pass the bush, let fly both barrels into them at just the right range for buckshot to do its best that the charge was broken, and every man on his feet sought safety in precipitate re? treat. .'That is awful!" whispered Kenton as the smoke blew away and gave them a clear sight of the ground. "Lands, but we uns hev licked the hull southern confedeiacy!" answered Steve. At first sight it seemed as if half the charging foi ce had been wiped out, but after a moment some of those who had fallen began to creep away to the shelter of the rocks and bushes. They were allowed to do this without moles- j taticn. Five remained there in plain i sight, however, and not one of them would ever stand on his feet again. ! There was no further movement for half an hour. The besiegers realized that they were'not strong enough to carry that fort, even though it held only two defenders, and they resorted to strategy. A flag of truce finally appeared, and.the ' Holding the fort. soldier "wno Ti?re 1t~w?s' permitted To approach within 30 feet of the rocks. There he halted and said that 10 more men had come np; that Ike Baxter bad been sent off to the Confederate lines for artillery and more soldiers; that the men then surrounding them had become so desperate that unless the twain sur? rendered within 10 minutes a squad would be detailed to go and burn Rest Haven and wreak revenge on Marian Percy. It was a threat intended to strike Royal Kenton a heavy blow, and it suc? ceeded. As he heard the words and re? alized their import his *r?ce grew white as snow, and he whispered to Steve that the terms must be complied with. '.Don'tyou believe it!" was the blunt reply. ''It's simply a game to rattle us. Don't yo' remember that Uncle Ben was to start out the fast thing this mawnin to find the Yankees? He un's had time, and it's likely they are on the way. The gal is southern and loyal, and even though sum of these chaps ar' guerrillas they dasn't go that fur." ,4But suppose they dared to?" pleaded Kenton. "Then they'd db it arter they bad cut us to pieces, the same as befo'. Look at them dead folks out thar. D'ye reckon they'll spare us arter that? Hark! Whoopee! By the li vin jingo, but the Yanks hev showed up at last!" CHAPTER XXVni. The courier dispatched by the captain of the Federal troop reached the lines in due time and banded the message to General Custer, whose brigade was in winter quarters, but scouting and recon? noitering almost daily. An order had been issued by the general in command of the army in the valley outlawing all Confederate ixregulars and directing special attention to Mosby's band. Within bali an hour after receiving the courier Custer dispatched two com? panies of the Sixth Michigan cavalry, with instructions o push forward at a gallop, and 30 minutes later be fol? lowed them with the First and Fifth regiments and a battery of artillery. The flying column foo nd old Uncle Ben patiently waiting by the roadside and stopped long enough to bear his story. He gave tHm the lay of the camp oc? cupied by Kenton and Brayton and was left behind to wait for the main column. Perhaps the besieging force was in earnest in making the statement which fell from the lips of the flag of truce man as an alternative. They bad suf? fered too severely to try another charge up the narrow way, and the fusillade maintained for hours had been lead thrown away. Ike Baxter bad indeed been sent away for re-enforcements and a piece of artillery, and the guerrilla portion of the force was thirsting for re? venge and rife for the most desperate deed. The girl had defied them, and her lover had killed two or three of their number, and somebody must be made to surfer. The sergeant in command of the squad of Confederate cavalry had no control over the guerrillas, but when, as they waited to hear from the men behind the rocks, he beard them planning to wreak their vengeance on Rest Ha? ven, he did all in bis power to dissuade them. They seemed to abandon the idea, but under pretense of "having a talk" four or five of them slipped away and started for the house. They were within 20 rods of it and bad already di? vided up the wicked work to be swiftly accomplished when the flying squadron turned a bend in the highway and was upon them. They turned to flee, but half a dozen revolv?is cracked, and they were dead men as the last set of fours jumped over their bodies lying on the highway. Not a trooper slackened his rein or a horse broke bis gallop. "Halt! Dismount! Fourth men hold horses! Deploy to the left! Forward and fire at will!" It was a complete surprise to the Con? federates, who bad collected in a body to hear what answer might be made to the message sent in. They made a show of defense, but after a fight of five min- | ates, during which they lost 10 or 12 men, they threw down their arms and surrendered. This event was known in the camp almost as soon as outside of it, and the cheers which Steve Brayton ut? tered as he perched himself on the rocks were plainly beard as far as Rest Haven. "Yank, old boy, we uns is on the top limb now, " chuckled Steve as he leaped down and shook Kenton's hand. "Bein as I've got sorter used to the sight of Yankee uniforms, I reckon I'll drop over thar and tell 'em about yo' and see ; what's goin to be done." "But tell them of Miss Percy first," j replied Kenton, whose anxiety was far greater than he bad dared betray to his comrade. The prisoners were conducted to the highway and surrounded by a guard, j and then the senior captain accompanied ; Brayton back to the camp. They were not long in deciding what should be | done with Kenton. They would remove I him to Rest Haven, temporarily at j least, and the prisoners would be held there until the main column came up. j A rude litter was soon constructed, and Kenton was placed thereon and borne j away. A feeling of dumb despair crept over Marian Percy as she entered the house alter Uncle Ben's departure and looked upon her dead. The event was not en? tirely unexpected, and yet it was a great shock to her, surrounded as it was by such trying circumstances. The mother dead, Mrs. Baxter gone, her lover wounded and besieged by bloodthirsty men, Uncle Hen gone after help, ?n al? most certain knowledge that the worst was yet to come-what wonder that the girl was stricken and helpless? The re? port of every musket reached her ears, The report of every musket reached her ears. and now and then as the firing died away a little her heart stood still at the thought that Kenton and his comrade had been captured ny those who thirsted for their lives. She could only weep and pray as the hours dragged away. Hope came to her only when she heard the clatter of iron hoofs on the frozen road and looked out to behold the two com? panies of Federal cavalry sweeping up the highway to the rescue. Uncle Ben had been in time, and she murmured, "God bless him!" as she realized what it meant. The dead guerrillas lr y in plain sight as the troopers pushed on, and she shuddered as she realized what might have been. The dead were for? gotten for a moment in her anxiety for the living. There had been no firing for the last 10 minutes. Had the camp been captured? Had help come too late? She stood in the open door and held herself on her feet while she listened. A sud? den crash of musketry told ber what she was yearning to know. The Federal troopers had attacked, and they were strong enough to beat off or annihilate the besiegers. Half an hour later she was crying and sobbing and saying to the men who bore the litter: "Carefully now! Bring him right in this way! 1 am so glad! I was afraid that he was dead!" The prisoners were confined m the barn. Of th? entire force not one had escaped except Ike Baxter, and that only because he was absent. There were a dozen or more dead men to bury, and after awhile a detail was sent back to perform the work. A dozen dead, bnt no wounded. If yon were in the valley that winter, yon will recall the bitter? ness existing between the "irregulars," who were practically bushwhackers and guerrillas, and the Federal cavalry. No prisoners were taken on either side. If a Federal detachment was cut off, never a man returned to his lines. If a colt- . ri er was captured, he was shot in his tiacks or hung to the limb of a roadside tree. There was no more mercy shown on the other side. The capture of an armed man in citizen's dress or half uniform meant that he had only 15 min? utes to live at the furthest. If he claimed to belong to Mosby's band, he courted death the sooner. Men who fell in a fight went down to be buried there. Custer with his troopers found Uncle Ben eagerly awaiting them. Tne old man was given a seat in an ambulance, and within a few minutes the general had heard his story. The order was giv? en to push on at a faster pace, and the command reached Rest Haven just as the prisoners had been placed under guard. A surgeon accompanied the column, and while he was busy dressing Kenton's wounds General Custer was holding an interview with Marian Per? cy. The result of this was an order that the dead woman and the wounded man should be taken back to the Federal lines-the one for burial, the other for proper medical treatment.. Whatever Marian wished to take away would be transported for her, and the place wonld i be abandoned. Steve Brayton had come out of the affair a greater hero than he had ever i hoped to be. Although frankly ac I knowledging himself an escaped pris ! oner and now again captured by the en I ernies of bis canse, every Federal who understood how he had fortified the camp and defended it to save a wounded and almost helpless fellow Confederate I insisted on taking him by the hand and tendering bim hearty congratulations. Even General Custer himself did not withhold a word of praise after learn? ing from Marian and Kenton of Bray ton's, braver?_and_self sacrifice.. fTO BE CONTINUED.J * I Was Sick Every day. suffering with stomach, liver and kidney trouble, also from after effects of tte ^ Mr. B. F. Hart? grip, with pain in my back and limbs. Different medicines failed to benefit me. The first dose of Hood's Sarsaparilla relieved my stomach. I have continued and I am now permanently Hood's?^ Cures cured. All pain has left me, my appetite ls good, my sleep sc:nd and refreshing, and I am strong and well I never enjoyed better health. B. K HARKIS. White Bluff, Tennessee. i Hood's Pills eurea!) liver ills. 25c