Page 159 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

read)f. T'hey could not make it out. It was only a single
horse coming tearing down toward them.
“ Halt, h alt!" they called, before jack was in sight ; but
it was idle. Down the path the horse came flying-—Jack with

his feet in the stirrup leathers, his hands wrapped in the
bridle reins, his body bent forward on his horse's neck, and
chicking his tongue out. In one bound the horse was in the
road. " H a i t i ” Bang ! bang! went ihe guns in his very
face. But he was flying. A dozen leaps and he was thun­
dering across the bridge. Jack was conscious only that a

dark form stood in the middle, throwing up its arms. !t was
but a second ; he saw it shot out into the water as if struck
by a steam-engine. His horse gave one splendid leap, and
the next minute he was tearing up the road toward home,

through the quiet woods, which gave no sound but that of
his rushing stride.
jack had one moment of supreme delight. His mother
had got somewhat anxious about him, and they were all on
the front porch when he galloped up into the yard, his beau­

tiful bay now brought down under perfect control, but yet
full of life and spirit. .As they ran to ineet him, jack sprang
from the saddle and presented the horse to his mother.
The next day jack’s mother called him into her room.
She took him by the hand, “ My son,” she said, (i I want

you to carry the horse back and return him to the Yankee
camp.”
jack was aghast. ‘ Why, mamma, he's my horse; that is,