Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

128 A STUNNING SURPRISE, Spang! A stunning report filled the ears of the Union cap- tain. The huge Southerner staggered, and the next in- stant fell, pierced through the heart by a bullet. Ouckly, Captain Chetwood jumped to his feet, to feel himself jerked by the collar backward, and al- most forcibly dragged from the spot. ‘“This way; run like the devil, boss, or you'll lose yer grip and go under.”’ The speaker was tall and lean, an awkward coun- tryman, whose smooth, sallow face and awkward movements, proclaimed him scarcely more than a _ boy in years. It was this man, or boy, who had saved the cap- tain’s life. The fellow’s blue breeches flopped about his thin legs as a bag might over a bean-pole. It was light enough now for the captain to see plainly, and he could scarcely repress an exclamation on discovering who his rescuer was. Such an awk- ward boy, to possess such masterly courage, when strong men were fleeing with terror on every hand. ‘Run, boss, run!’ cried the man—we will call him a man since he was past eighteen—‘‘the rebs are coming.’’ ‘“Who are you—you saved my life??? cried the cap- tain. ‘“T’m an Ohio boy,’? answered the awkward sol- dier. ‘*Mebbe you never heard of Deacon Potter?’ | ‘Never !?” ‘Well, he’s my dad just aie same. I wan’t good _ for nothin’ at home, so I jined the army, one of the old regiments, and hev been trampin’ up an’ down these Virginny hills fur nigh a year. Come, come, boss; dig out, or the rebs’ll git ye!’ The captain accelerated his speed, for he saw that comicbooks Ge