The Star of Gettysburg - A Story of Southern High Tide by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler
page 33 of 362 (09%)
page 33 of 362 (09%)
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"And a good thing, too, that night is not far off." "Right, my boy, we need 'em both, the forest and the dark. The Union cavalry is going to pursue us, and I don't mean to turn back. General Jackson sent us to find about McClellan's crossing, and we've got to do it." "I wouldn't dare go back to Old Jack without the information we're sent to get." "Nor I. Hurry up the men, Marlowe. We've got to lose the Union cavalry in the forest somehow." The men urged their horses forward at a gallop and quickly reached the trees. But when Harry looked back he saw the thousand in blue about a mile away, coming at a pace equal to their own. He felt much apprehension. The road through the forest led straight before them, but the trail of two hundred horses could not be hidden even by night. They could turn into the forest and elude their pursuers, but, as Sherburne said, that meant abandoning their errand, and no one in all the group thought of such a thing. Sherburne increased the pace a little now, while he tried to think of some way out. Harry rode by his side in silence, and he, too, was seeking a solution. Through the trees, now nearly leafless, they saw the blue line still coming, and the perplexities of the brave young captain grew fast. But the night was coming down, and suddenly the long, lean figure of a |
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