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Show QioDLD 1U5T A TALE OF CML STRIFE tt &r RANDALL PARRISH ff IELU5TPATI0N$ &-C.D RHODES fcJ COPYWGfir 1 , at the point where I haa couie up the trail. They remained grouped there for a moment, talking earnestly; then the shadow formed disintegrated, and Rawmond and the horse alone remained re-mained distinguishable. I knew the others had disappeared in the black-ness black-ness of the ravine, and that they were destined to search Us depths in vain, for what little trail 1 might have left in my crawl upward could never be deciphered in that darkness. I waited motionless for what I believed to be ten minutes, anxious that the fellows get far enough down to be safely beyond be-yond earshot. At first I 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 a few yards, and fastened his rein securely to the limb of a tree; then took his own position within the brush shadow, where he could watch the head of the trail. From where I crouched I could no longer see the fellow. 1 had no thought of going on and leaving him there on guard. Not only did I feel an overwhelming desire to punish the man for his treachery and insolence, but I wished to gain possession posses-sion of the horse. Such an opportunity as thls-was the gift of God, and 1 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 a mere shapeless shadow in the moonlight. 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 preparing pre-paring to resume their march. Satisfied Satis-fied that my own way was clear, 1 crawled out to the edge of the line of brush, and arose silently to my feet To reach Raymond I 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 lieutenant's whole attention atten-tion would be devoted to the trail, and that be would anticipate no approach from behind, I walked straight forward and laid hand on the horse's head. He smelt of me curiously, but made no noise, and, looking across his back, i could dimly perceive the man a few paces beyond. He stood erect, his back towards me, perfectly motionless, his entire consciousness concentrated on his guard. I stole forward step by step, noiselessly. I was actually within with-in reach of him before some sense told him of my near presence, and he wheeled about only to find a leveled revolver staring him in the eyes. "We meet again," I said coldly, "and it seems to be my luck to hold the cards." "You! Good God! 1 thought " "I know what you thought, for I was within ten feet of you when you talked to Kelly. Put up your hands, Raymond! Ray-mond! Yes, of course, but don't attempt at-tempt any play I only need an excuse ex-cuse to hurt you." He glared at me savagely, yet his hands went up, although I could see him glance backward over one shoul der into the darkness of the ravine. (TO BE CONTINUED.) waited. Once he stopped, and called out something; then came on along the edge of the wood, walking his horse slowly. The rider was not a soldier, sol-dier, but beyond that fact, evidenced by lack of uniform. I could make no guess as to his identity, although I believed him one of Cowan's guerrillas. A gun. poised and ready, forked out beside his horse's neck, and he leaned forward in the saddle, peering Into the shadows. A few feet beyond me, he suddenly reined in his horse, and called again: "That you, lieutenant?" A single figure seemed to emerge from among the trees a mere shadow, formless and silent. "Yes; who are you?" "Kelly Dean told me you were here; the damn fellow has got way, and the gurl with him." "How do you know?" "We've looked over every dead body, the wounded and prisoners, and searched every inch of the church they're not thar, sir." "By God! Where could they have gone! They were there; he was any-how. any-how. for I heard his voice. Did you talk with any of those living?" "There ain't many ter talk ter. The Reb leftenant Is a goin' ter pull thro', 1 reckon, but he's hurt too bad ter talk. Enyhow Fox wouldn't give me no chance fer ter git nigh him. I asked a sojer, a young feller, an' he sed Wyatt an' the gurl wus both in thar; he seed 'em together just afore we charged. But I'll be damned if they're thar now." Raymond muttered something, a smothered oath no doubt, and then burst forth: "Well, good God, man I They are both flesh and blood. If neither are there then they must have found a way of escape. We had every side of the church guarded so a mouse couldn't get through in this moonlight 1 saw to that myself." "There were no guards on the east " "Because there was no room to post any. The church walls are on the edge of the ravine; Cowan said there were none needed there." "Wall," insisted the other, half angrily. "I didn't think so neither, no mor'n Anse did; but I reckon that's whar we made a mistake. Them two's skedaddled, an' thar warn't no chance fer 'em enywhar else. Thet's plain 'nough, ain't It? I don't know nuthln' 'bout what's thar, fur I never ain't been 'long thet edge, but if them two ever got out inter thet thar ravine they're thar yet, fer thar's no way leading out 'cept along ther trail yonder." yon-der." "What trail? Where?" "Back thar, 'bout a hundred feet. I reckon an oT hog trail thet leads down ter the crick. Thar couldn't nobody cum up it without yer seeln' 'em from here." "And so you think they're down there yet?" "Sure; 'less they got wings they couldn't a come up no other way." The lieutenant strode forward, and grasped the rein of the horse. I could see him clearly now, the moonlight on his upturned face. "Then we've got them, all right," he asserted, a new confidence in his voice. "You know the way down, don't you. Kelly?" "Hell, yes; I hid out thar fer six weeks onct They call It the Devil's glen, an' I reckon taln't a bad Dame neither." "All right then; I've got three men here who'll go with you. That will "We Meet Again." I Said Coldly. be enough. I'll stay up here, so If the fellow slips by I'll nab him. Jones ail of you come here. Come, Kelly, there's a hundred dollars Id this for you." "By God! It's worth it, fer somebody's some-body's liable ter get shot." He rolled out of the saddle, but with evident reluctance. re-luctance. "1 reckon I'll let one o' them sojers go ahead. Yer must want thet Reb powerful bad, leftenant?" "I do," grimly, "dead or alive." Three other figures joined them; they were on foot, but 1 could see the guns in their hands, and the gleam of buttons In the moonlight. Raymond sjoke swiftly, pointing with one baud, but his voice was lowered so the words did not reach me. No doubt be was briefly explaining the plan, and giving orders. Kelly added a gruff sentence, and then the whole five tramped past me, the lieutenant leading the horse, and Kelly coming so close to where I lay I could have touched him with an extended hand. Scarcely venturing to breathe I watched their passage along the edge of the bluff, until they halted' CHAPTER XXVil Continued. 20 They were upon us, jammed in the narrow doorways, each man fighting for life. I used gun and revolver In the red mist before me were black Hhapes, hateful faces. Twice 1 lost foot and fell, but was up again, fronting front-ing them I stepped on dead bodies, slipped In pools of blood; falling men caused me to stagger; a slug of lead tore burning through my shoulder; a glancing knife blade ripped my forearm. fore-arm. I had no time, no room, In which to reload; my" hands gripped the hot carbine barrel, and I swung the stock Jlke a flail. Inch by Inch they won through the loor; we could kill, but not stop them, and they hurled us back, stumbling over the dead, clambering across overturned over-turned benches, but unable to stem the increasing tide. We were all together now Harwood, Wharton the sole handful left, and we made a fight of It. the best we could. There was a mo-iment's mo-iment's pause, the merest instant in which to breathe, and my eyes met Harwood's. He was naked to the iwalst, hatless, blood dripping from a cut over one eye, the Btock of his carabine car-abine shattered. "Ah, gunner of Staunton," he called out cheerily, although his voice cracked with dryness. "Didn't I tell you if you wanted a good time to jiue the cavalry." "Forward, men, forward!" It was Fox's voice, although I saw nothing of him. "Once more, nnd it's over with forward!" "Now, lads, meet them!" burst out Harwood. "About me, Third Kentucky here they come!" They drove us in so as to encircle 'us. yet the jumble of benches served .as some protection to our rear. Perhaps Per-haps the fact that there were Yankees between us and the pulpit prevented firing for we met hand to hand in a death grapple. I have seen battles, -yet nothing like that; it was as though 'beasts of the jungle fought; men struggled strug-gled with naked bands, struck death blows, fired Into each' other's faces, trampled over writhing bodies, cursing, curs-ing, or yelling defiance as they fell. We scarcely knew friend from foe, blue from gray. I cannot even tell what occurred to myself In those breathless moments. I know I fought Mnadly, blindly again and again sweeping a space clear with my weapon; hands gripped my throat my 'hair, and I tore loose; fingers clutched at my legs, but I kicked free. I was conscious of blows, of wounds; I knew when Harwood fell, and was trampled under foot; I heard others -Bcream; I saw the hated face of Anse Cowan In the ruck and leaped for him, but whom my mad blow struck I could not tell. Some rush, some quick pressure of bodies, burled me side-wise, side-wise, caught me in a vise; I tripped over a dead man, staggered to my feet again. I got footing on the pulpit platform, and held It for an instant, my gun-barrel crashing into the mass of faces below. Wharton joined me. a bull mad with rage; I saw hlra rend the pulpit stand from the floor and 'hurl It with all his strength into the 'ruck. Then twenty hands gripped him. hauling him down, a clubbed musket descended, and the sergeant pitched :forward like a log of wood. There was a shot, the blow of a rifle barrel, and I went down, the very breath of life seemingly knocked out of me. I fell on the platform, back of where the pulpit desk had stood, and a body lay across me. If I lost consciousness :it was for no more than an instant, yet my whole body felt numbed and useless. use-less. 1 could scarcely move my fingers 'to unclasp them from the gun barrel, and every breath I drew was in pain. Still I realized all that happened, distinguished dis-tinguished voices, and the shuffling of feet on the puncheon floor. I heard Fox shouting orders, as the mad hubbub hub-bub ceased. "That's enough! That's enough, men! It's all over with. Here, sergeant, ser-geant, round up those prisoners; God Jnows there are few enough of the poor devils left. Guard those able to walk outside. Now, Herzog, carry the wounded over here. What? Why. of -course, you idiot, we are not savages those fellows fought like men. and are to be treated decently. No distinction, mind you. Let the derj lie where they are till daylighT, but don't overlook over-look a wounded inan. Where's Cowan? Does anybody know?" "Shot, sir; he's here in this pile -somewhere." "See if the fellow is alive. Who is tis lieutenant?" "I am, sir; my name's Kelly." "Well get your damn crew of scoundrels scoun-drels out of here, what's left of them. Do you hear! This is soldier work, nd I want you fellows outside." "You used us all right when tbar wus fightin' ter do " "That's enough. Kelly. I didn't uu you Moran did; and you can go to him with your complaints. 1 know how you treat prisoners, and would hat.g the whole of you. If 1 had my - way. Now get out, and don't answer me those are your orders. Lleuten .snt Raymond." 'He uas here a minute ago, sir," a voice answered from the vestibule, "but he went outside. I think be was touched a little In one arm." "Pity Is wasn't In the mouth; has anyone seen a woman?" No one answered. "No! That's strange! Here Green, take a couple of men, and feel your way along the walls; Jasper make a light of some kind who wants me? Colonel Moran? Tell him 1 am the only officer present, and I can't leave. By God! The place Is a shambles!" The searching party was to the right of me, against the black shadow of the wall. This was my chance, my one and only chance to slip away unobserved. unob-served. In five minutes more the searching party would find me there, and bear me along with the others. I wriggled out from under the weight of the body lying across my legs, and groped about in the dark until my fingers fin-gers encountered the ring embedded in the floor. The light of the sputtering sputter-ing torch still left the pulpit platform in shadow; Fox was at the other end of the church, his sharp "oice rasping out orders. I got to my knees, and lifted the trap barely far enough to squeeze through. There was a gleam of light below; sufficient to reveal the dark outline of. the steps leading down. Some eye might distinguish the glimmer, glim-mer, yet I thrust my body through the narrow opening noiselessly, and lowered low-ered the cover to the floor level. There was no cry, no sound Indicating Indicat-ing that the movement had been observed. ob-served. I waited an instant, crouched breathlessly on the upper step, listen ing. My eyes surveyed those contracted contract-ed surroundings curiously. The candle, a mere fragment, burned dimly in one corner, revealing what appeared to be the interior of a huge box. with a platform built half across it. Its outer edge protected by a low rail. A small wheel ingeniously arranged to operate a lever, occupied one end of the platform, plat-form, and directly across was an opening open-ing in the sidewall next the floor, barely large enough for a man's body to squeeze Into. Nothing else was visible; no evidence left of the two who had already passed that way. 1 slipped down the steps, lowered my body silently to the damp floor. I entered the hole head first, dragging and pushing with hands and feet, eager to get quickly into the open. Almost before 1 realized the possibility, my head and shoulders emerged into the outer air and I hung suspended over a rock ledge, staring blindly down Into In-to the unknown depths of a ravine. The ledge itself was barely wide enough to afford foothold, yet I succeeded suc-ceeded in creeping out upon It, and then in standing upright. The shoulder shoul-der of the hill was sufficiently steep and high to shut out all view of ' the log walls of the church, while below was a black void, out from which arose the faint splashing of distant water. But the church itself must have been lit up by this time, for a reddish glow of light tipped the bank above,' and bridged the dark ravine. The rock ledge extended to the right, a fairly smooth path, and I followed It cautiously, finding no other available passage. It led gradually downward, until it seemed to merge into a beaten track, running directly south through a tangle of underbrush not far above the stream. The way was Intensely black, yet not difficult to follow by the sense of touch, while the incessant roar of the nearby water blotted out all sound from above. Once I heard the crack of guns, but they sounded at a distance, and. looking up, 1 could perceive per-ceive the red reflection on the trees lining the bank far above. But for these I was plunged in a black solitude, soli-tude, through which I must grope my way, each step liable to plunge me into uncertain peril. A hundred yards, two hundred, and the trail swerved more to the right, and began to mount upward, zig-zagging among the trees Slowly, cautiously, my head arose above the crest, and the moon, just peering out from behind the edge of a cloud, gave me giimp along the level plateau. .- CHAPTER XXVIII. "With Nature's Weapons. To the right of where 1 lay was the outline of the church, the windows alight, several blazing torches, bobbing about within, revealing passing figures, fig-ures, although the distance was too great to permit any sound of voices reaching my ears. The rear door, however, stood wide open, and a considerable con-siderable body of men were grouped there. Straight across from me. a squad of horsemen were moving northward, north-ward, and a single rider was spurring rapidly betweeu them and the church. The -grove of trees where I was to meet Nichols and Noreen was to the left It was dark and silent, a shapeless shape-less shadow, and the forest growth of the ravine extended far enough over the crest to hide my approach. Satisfied that no searching parties were near by, I advanced swiftly along the edge of this fringe of trees, yet taking every precaution. 'Twas well 1 did, for suddenly the horseman swerved, and rode straight toward me. through the moonlight. 1 sank down Into the brush, revolver In hand, and |