Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

ee Ne es NED BRIGHT’S WORK. _earry double, and the six troopers moved through the woods toward the turnpike under the guidance of the boy. Lieutenant-colonel T'rafton mounted his steed, and was soon riding down beyond Middletown Meadows in search of Early’s headquarters. Captain Chetwood was puzzled, decidedly, at the course events were taking. On the very brink of the grave, this lad had ap- peared, and snatched him from eternity. What did it mean? What did that slip of paper contain ? Captain Chetwood’s hands were released from bonds, and he felt easier than before. When the little _ party gained the road, the soldier who acted as guard over Chetwood, rode beside the boy. ‘‘Now, what in the world does this mean ?’’ cried the Union captain, in no little astonishment, address- ing the bright-faced youth who had been the means of saving his life. “Tt means that you are to go to Richmond. If you have acted the spy you will be there condemned and executed,’’ uttered the youth, rather vehemently, the captain thought. ‘I am no spy,’’ asserted the prisoner, ‘That remains to be seen.’ ‘Where will you take me now??’? ‘“T’o a safe place, where there are other men of like ilk,’’ returned the boy, spiritedly. ‘“Which is indefinite,’’ thought the captain, al- though he did not utter this sentiment aloud. The party had proceeded but a short distance when the boy led the way to the left, and plunged into the woods. The cavalrymen followed unsuspiciously. They had been instructed to follow wherever Ned Bright should lead. = The youth had thus given his name, and, fake ron —_ comicbooks Col