Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE. | 123 What ‘ed was the meaning of this muffled tramp along the Union front? The question sent a startled thrill to the heart of the captain. The enemy was coming—coming under cover of fog and night to surprise the sleeping army. ‘Again Royal Chetwood listened. He was no alarm- — ist, and did not wish to arouse the sleeping camp without good reason. The tramping sound had suddenly ceased. Another sound struck the startled ear of the young - captain, however, that convinced him that he had made no mistake. It was a metallic clink that was not new to oe ears. There could be no doubt now of the truth—the enr- | emy were moving in force upon the sleeping camp. Quickly Captain Chetwood turned about.to retrace his steps, his revolver drawn in his hand, ready to fire and give the alarm the moment he should gain the Union outpost. He did not carry his intentions inte execution. A crash sounded almost at his side. The next instant a dark form stood up almost g1- gantic in stature, disputing the captain’s pathway to — the Union lines. Chetwood would have avoided the man if nocaieeel but he soon discovered that this was not to be. ‘Friend or ——??’ questioned the captain, in a whisper, at the same time raising his revolver. For answer the stranger hurled himself with stag-— gering force upon the captain. This decided the identity at once. Captain Chetwood found himself clasped in the arms of a giant. With a crash, both men ek to the ground in a furious struggle for the mastery. It was a silent struggle. N either man cared to rouse the enemy by unneces- ~ecomicbooks.co