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capturing their guard, took their prisoners
to the Union works at Gloucester Point.
After resting a few days Kilpatrick crossed
the river on transports, marched up the
tongue of land between the Rappahannock
and the Potomac, and joined Hooker at
Falmouth, having made a complete circuit
of the rebel army.
I was left alone in the heart of rebeldom.
CHAPTER IV.
BLACK FRIENDS.
It would be impossible to describe my feel-
ings when realized that I no longer had
trusty comrades to rely upon, but was alone
in the swamp, many miles from friends,
with a rebel armny between the Federal
troops and myself, and surrounded by bitter
foes who would hunt me to the death if they
learned I was in the neighborhood.
lremembered my former experience with
the guerrillas, and the first thing I did was
to hide what notesI had taken about our
raid in the lining of my hat, so that if cap-
tured by such men I would not, through
their ignorance, have to suffer the fate of a
spy.
‘Then I thought that the sooner I got out
of the swamp the better for me.
It was anything but an inviting place, and
I felt thatif lonuce got upon dry ground it
would bea long time before I left it again.
To find my way out of theswamp was not
an easy matter, but Iaimed for the tongue
of land running along the river, for should I
proceed in any other direction I had little
chance of ever seeing the outside of the
Great Dragon Swamp.
Though not more than half an hour had
been spent in reaching the spot where I then
found myself, it took me two hours to reach
the river, and then I wasat the extreme
end of the tongue of land, where our horses
had halted when they could proceed no
further.
But for my carefulness it is doubtful
whether 1 would have accomplished the
task in this time.
Once upon the neck I began to clean my-
self as well as possible under the circum-
stances, for almost three hours wandering
inthe swamp had not been condusive to
good looks.
When this was accomplished I made my
way along back over the route we had come,
keeping a watchful eye around me, so that I
might not be taken unwares by any skulk-
ing rebel.
was wellarmed, for besides the revolver
I usually carried, I had strapped around my
waist a belt holding the larger weapon
taken from the holster when I deserted my
horse.
The sun was low in the west when I found
myself at the head of the swamp.
iere wus where we had entered the fatal
trap, and I knew of no better place to come
toa haltand decide what course I should
pursue.
Having determined this to my satisfaction
I started off.
When I reached a shady spot among the
trees, so secluded that it was not only safe,
butinviting, l1threw myself upon the moss
and was almost instantly sound asleep.
late our slumber had been of short
duration, for it will be remembered that
inuch of our marching was done during the
night.
Islept soundly quite a number of hours,
Awaking at last, I was not a trifle sur-
prised to find the moon shining upon my
ace,
How long [had slept I did not know un-
tilI consulted my watch and discovered
that quitea portion of the night had al-
ready gone.
I had intended doing so much under the
shade of darkness thut it was quite a disap-
pointment for me to find so much of the
night flown.
Leaving the spot where I had bivouacked,
Imadea bee line for a house some miles
away, of which Ihad taken particular no-
tice from anelevation before reaching this
place.
Good luck attended me insofar that I man-
aged to come upon the house.
Whether I could get any satisfaction in
that quarter, to stay the demands of my ap-
petite for food, was a question yet tobe an-
Swered.
Idared not go up boldly and ask food,
for I was dressed in a half military uniform,
which would betray me at once,
Even if the clothes did not, as many rebels
wore blue breeches or blouses captured in
battle, the fact of my begging for food
would indicate that I was either 2 Yankee
HE WAR LIBRARY.
adeserter from Lee’s army, and in one
ease or the other the proprietor of the man-
sion could ouly do his duty by delivering
me up to the authorities or putting them on
ack.
my Was too shrewd for such a foolish move-
rent. .
" Much rather would I have risked my life
with the negroes of the plantation, believ-
ing that my secret would be safe with them,
and that when they learned 1 was one of
Uncle Sam's boys, they would do everything
in their power tor me.
Making my way therefore to the rear of
the mausion, I saw lights in the negro
shanties. .
‘At the same time the musical twanging of
a banjo struck my ear.
I crept closer, |
‘A male voice burst out in one of those
singular negro melodies, utterly at variance
with all set rules of musical rythm, and yet
full of music.
J had heard the old song many times be-
fore, but never as then. | .
It seemed to me so plaintive and sad, as if
some captive soul were sighing for freedom.
1 knew then that the singer had once been
in thatfamous coun.y in Maryland, ‘“ Old
Caroline,” and that wlen he was sold furth-
er south he had left dear ones behind him,
the memory of whom worked upon his feel-
ings.
fn this man I felt sure I could finda
friend. .
By this time I was close to the cabin.
The light inside was feeble but my eyes
soon caught the long, lank figure of the sing-
er who satin a wooden chair, banjo on bis
knee, his head thrown back and his eyes
shut as though he were, by means of second
sight, looking back to that ‘‘dear_old Caro-
line” of which he sung.
I entered softly.
Still he did not move; evidently he had
not heard my footsteps, being in a semi-
trance.
There were lights in one or two other
cabins and I could hear the clatter of dishes
in one of them, but somehow I had no fear
of being disturbed.
Putting out my hand I touched the ne-
gro singer on the shoulder.
“My friend,’ I said, quietly.
The touch and voice seemed to act upon
him like electricity and he sprung erect,
turning upon me with the whites of his eyes
showing.
“Who is you, mars, an’ what you want
wid pore Pete?” he asked, in a trembling
volce,
“ I Ww:
Pete.”
“Wait till I pick de candle a little, mars.
Den we kin have moah light.””
As he madea motionas though about to
put his words into execution, | caught his
arm.
“Hold, my friend. Do you not under-
stand. Lam one of Lincoln’s soldiers lost
in this country, anc I have come to you for
help. If yn made more light here, your
master or the overseer might look in and ny
uniform would betray me.”’
Pete was trembling now, not with fear
but joy.
“Oh, mars! am dis so? I done heerd to-
day from one ob Mars Pinkham’s boys on
de next place dat de Yankees war ridin’
frough de kentry a-freein’ de slaves. We is
allready to go, mars, wen de time comes.
Am it true?) Am we to be free.”
Uhad quite a time beating it into poor
Pete’s head that just then, instead of coming
as a liberator emancipating the slaves of
the rebels, | was myself in sore distress, and
depended upon kim and his friends in the
adjoining cabins for food and help.
When the honest fellow did comprehend
the truth, he was running over with sym-
pathy.
“ Nars, dar am a loft above de corn crib,
whar you can hide, I will go among de nig-
gersan’ dose dat am_to be trusted shall
know youse ain dar, We will come to you,
inars, an’ bring youse food.”
He took me to the corn-crib and led the
way to the loft, then leaving me.
Jay down on a pile of corn husks and
waited.
Though I placed the fullest confidence in
Pete, still 1did not intend being taken by
surprise under any circumstances, and
hence held my large revolver in readi-
hess.
About half an hour glided by.
Then I heard low voices below, and pres-
ently some one commenced climbing the
Jndder that Jed from the corn-crib below to
ne loft.
ant to speak to you for a minute,
iL sat up and waited.
It was easy to hear the labored breathin
of the parties who were ascending, and
could tell when they gained the top ofthe
ladder, .
Just asl was on the point of
who was there, a low voice said ;
“Mars, sojer, 2m youse hyar?”
** Who is it?” I demanded,
Aman whois risking his life cannot be
too careful, and before I fully committed
inyself, I wished to learn if it was really
my friend Pete.
tis yoice was uot familiar enough for
me to recognize it, therefore my ques.
tion. .
“It's me, Pete, mars, wid Chloe, de
cook,” returned the darky’s cheerfuj
demanding
ice.
In another moment they were beside me,
and old Chloe was kissing my hand with the
teurs streaming down her face. :
“De Lor’ bless you mars, de Lor’ be good
to you. Dis am a bressed day for pore
Aunty Chloe wen she am permitted ter
touch de han’ ob Mars Linkum’s sojer,
Pete, light de match. Don’t be afered
mars, all I want is ter look on_ yer face once
an’ den old Chloe ready to die. She neber
lib to see de year ob jubilee, but it am com.
in’, it am eoemin’. ar de voice ob one
cryin’ inde wilderness an’ proclaimin’ de
freedom ob our race.”
The match flared up, and I saw before me
an aged colored woman, her hair snow-white,
partially concealed by. a bright handker-
chief, her face wrinkled and pinched, but
the black eyes were glued upon my face
with a hungry Jook I shall never forget.
“Dar,” breathed the old negress, just be-
fore the match went out leaving us in the
dark again, ‘I hab looked on de face ob a
Yankee. Ihab prayed de good Lor’ for dis
time wen I could look upon de face ob a
Yankee, an’ He hab done granted de re-
quest.’”
“Hist! ° ‘
Pete gave utterance to this low, sibilant
sound.
Immediately the old woman crouched low
upon the floor of the loft. .
I heard footseps outside, and then a gruff
voice.
“jiang meif I didn’t see alight up over
the corn-crib just now, aud I must see to it.
If those darkies are up to uny mischief I'll
skin the hull of ’em.’’
“ De overseer,’ Whispered Chloe,
I could well understand her trembling,
and not blame her for it, .
Among Southern blacks at that time the
overseer of a plantation was hated and
feared by those over whom he had exercised
control, for he was the embodiment of re-
fined cruelty as a general thing visiting
punishment upon the slaves for any little
thing that might be contrary to his
orders.
Should these two be found in the loft
with a Yankee whom they were succoring,
the direst penalty in the category of his
punishments would be the result.
I determined that should he discover me,
the man must die.
In this way I would effect my escape
while my black friends would be shielded.
“Wait, mars, I fool him,’ whispered
Pete.
As the overseer was heard entering below,
Pete reached the opening and commenced
descending into the corn-crib.
Seeing the flash of a lantern from below,
{drew my revolver again and pulled back
the hammer.
It would bea bad move for the overseer
to investigate the loft.
CHAPTER Y.
ALMOST LOST.
Pete had succeeded in commencing the de-
scent of the ladder before he was noticed by
the overseer. ‘
A lantern is generally a poor article to carry,
seeing that it betrays its holder, and does
little more.
“Who is that?” cried tho overseer, coup-
ling the question with a hearty oath.
knew him for a coward from that mo-
ment, and under ordinary. circutnstances
would have liked nothing better than to
meet him face to face and cow him into sub-
mission, which, I believed, would not prove
a difficult task.
“It’s me, Mars Shepherd, Pete,” sang out
the darky, still suspended from the ladder.
Then followed another volley of oaths.
“What war you doin’ up thar, you black
imp? Up to some deyviltry, warrant,
7
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