Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

(2 WITHIN A NOOSE. bers of the notorious Mosby’s command, who had be- come separated from the main body, and were scour- - ing the country in quest of plunder, while Mosby and his men were hanging about the rear of the ad- -vancing Union army, seeking to capture and _ destroy Sheridan’s wagon trains. “You ought to have obeyed sooner,’’ said Colonel -Trafton, as he bent from his saddle and peered into Captain Chetwood’s face. ‘‘T am satisfied if you are not,’’ was the blunt re- ply of the young officer. ““Ah, I am glad so little makes you happy,”’ sneered Trafton. ‘‘If one of these trees should bear fruit, how would you feel then ?”’ ‘‘Insensible at the last, I suppose.’ ‘Quite right.’ : The officer in command of the detachment saluted the colonel, whom he recognized. By virtue of his rank, Trafton now assumed authority on the spot. ‘To what branch of Sheridan’s command do you belong, sir?’’ demanded the colonel. ‘“Torbert’s cavalry,’’ replied our hero, without be- traying the least trepidation at his desperate plight. ‘“You are a dangerous man,’’ said Trafton, eying his prisoner vindictively. “Thank you for the compliment.’ ‘You seem to be a dead shot, from what I’ve seen to-day.”’ ‘fT seldom fail to hit my man.”’ ‘“Why are you alone in this vicinity? ‘Simply because of circumstances.’ ‘You are not telling the truth, sir.” Royal flushed angrily. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Simply what I say.”’ ‘I do not understand you.’ “T think you will before I’ve done with you.” (E(0) -comicbooks