Page 156 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

had no time to lose. He cut himself a stout switch. He
made; a little detour, and went around the other side of the
clearing, so as to get the horse between him and the men.
This put him on the side toward the camp, as the men were

on the path which led to the bridge. Without stopping, he
crept up to the open space* Then he flung himself on his
face, and began to crawl up through the weeds toward the
horses, stopping every now and then to listen to the men.

As he drew near, one or two of the horses got alarmed
and began to twist, and one of them gave a snort of fear,
jack heard the men discussing it, and one of them say he
would go and see what was the matter- Jack lay flat in
the weeds* and his heart almost stopped with fright as he
heard the man coming around the house. He could see

him through the weeds, and he had his gun in his hands.
He seemed to be coming right to Jack, and lie gave himself
up as lost. He eould hear his heart thumping so, he was
sure the man must hear it too. He would have sprang up
and cut for the woods if he had had the slightest chance;

and as it was, he came near giving himself up, but though
the man seemed to be looking right toward him, Jack was
fortunately so concealed by the weeds that he did not ob­
serve him. He went up to Jack’s horse, and examined the
rope, ,J Tainft nothing but this new horse,” he cailed out

to his comrades. " He just wanted to see his master, HI
put my saddle on him now, boys* I've got him so certain,
and 1 mean to let him know heTs got a master." He changed
the saddle sind bridle from another horse to that, and then