United States or Nauru ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I was sure that the Cornfeds, ez hed seen them lope down inter the Cove, would be waitin' ter capshur them when they kem up the road agin I jes' showed him how ter crope out through the cave," Ethelinda sobbed. "How in perdition did they find thar way through that thar dark hole? I can't sense that!" the old man suddenly mumbled.
"They are not; and I don't understand their game," answered Milton. Suddenly, at an order from the commander of the company, the "Cornfeds" dismounted, and proceeded to lead their horses; but the animals still sank deep in the mud, even without the weight of their riders. "Whar's that stream you spoke on, Milton?" asked Life, as he continued to study the situation.
"I am not, for the Cornfeds have made breastworks of their horses," replied the volunteer lieutenant. "I ordered my men not to kill the poor beasts if they could help it." "I think that was a mistake," added Deck. "The hosses ain't Seceshers," replied Butters, not exactly pleased with his superior's criticism.
"We had a company of Cornfeds in town last night, and they started for Millersville this mornin'. I reckon you hain't seen nothin' on 'em, have you?" continued the keeper, as he seated himself on the bed while the sergeant occupied the only chair in the room. "Cornfeds is good," laughed Life; "but I cal'late they don't get much of that sort of feed just now." "Then I reckon you hain't seen 'em."
"I reckon that we uns have seen 'em; and I reckon them Cornfeds wish just now that we hadn't seen 'em." "Did you meet 'em?" "I'll bet we did, about five miles from here; and about one-third on 'em got killed before they surrendered." "Surrendered!" exclaimed the keeper. "I thought, when I heerd 'em talk, that no Cornfeds ever did anything o' that sort."
"But they are having as hard a time of it as the escort of the wagons, for their horses mire above their knees," added Milton. "But they are getting ahead very slowly in spite of the soft soil." "But whar be them Cornfeds gwine?" asked Life, who seemed to be enamored of the name into which Butters had tortured the word. "They ain't gwine the shortest way to the wagon-train."
"All right, Sergeant; I will make the distance as fast as we did coming," replied Milton as he started his horse, and immediately hurried him to a gallop. Life Knox ascended the tree again, seated himself on a branch, and proceeded to watch the "Cornfeds."
"Them half-starved Cornfeds won't give it up; for a dozen or more wagins, loaded with rations, is a prize to them, to say nothin' of the army in which they train. Your horse is well rested now, and you must make the gravel fly on your way to the road; for I reckon the re-enforcements will be needed as soon as they can get here."
Word Of The Day