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Ihad no clubin my band just tren, else I
should have used the!
Often since that time I have wondered
whether that was not a genuine Confeder-
ate dog, who hated a Yankee by natual in-
stinct.
The animal had doubtless guarded that
house for yearsand never made any assault
ona passerby, else he would not have been
suffered to live, and yet when I ventured to
pass, the brute made up his mind to eat me
up.
Ny stealthy movements may have had
something to do_ with it, for while other
ple passed boldly along the road, I crept
ot the houses and across the fields,
t anyrate that brute was fully deter-
mined to pull me down,
Irealized my danger as I saw him close
upon me, his mouth open and his eyes glar-
ing like the orbs of a mad panther.
As I held myrevolver in readiness all
that I had to do was to bringit to bear upon
the brute,
I fired two shots in quick succession.
Down went the brute with a yelp, strug-
pled for a few seconds, arose upon his fore-
egs, stiffened his frame, and with a second
yelp fell over dead.
Feeling sure that the shots and yelps
would attract his owner to the spot, per-
haps with a double-barreled shotgun full
of buckshot, I lost all further interest in the
defunct animal.
Turning, I fled the spot, yes, ingloriously
fled, but I had the satisfaction of knowing
that that rebel dog, at least, would never as-
sault another Yankee.
went through the fields like a race-
e0
ac
A
orse.
Long before any one could have reached
the spot where the huge dog lay stiffened
out, [ wasa hundred yards from the place,
and far beyond sight and hearing.
Fences were no obstacles to me.
I went over them like a horse, hardly
touching my hand to arail.
When I atlength struck the railroad track,
Iturned down in the proper direction and
ran at least a mile.
By that time all. sounds in my rear had
died away, and understanding tkat I was
not being pursued, I lessened my gait and
came down to a walk.
I trudged along the track for a long time,
keeping my eyes and ears on the alert for
danger.
Oncel had to get out of the way for a
train.
It was composed of two dozen cars, both
passenger and freight, and as they swept by
my place of concealment, I saw that they
were all laden down with soldiers.
It was, evidently, a reinforcement for Lee,
some troops that had been ordered to change
their base. .
Icould not help but think as they swept
by, what a grand stroke for the Union it
would be, should some one send that train
into ariver, but as for myself I did not have
the slightest ambition to be the man who
was to accomplish this fearful deed.
An hour afterI left the road I had another
little trouble.
Coming upon another station I dared not
ass it boldly, and as dawn was near at
and and I must get beyond some way or
other, I determined to make a detour.
This time I avoided all the houses, makin
quite a circuit, and at last reached the track
again, without having come in contact with
any dog.
gain I tramped steadily along.
When I bad gone several miles beyond the
station last encountered, I began to keep
my eyes on the alert for a place where I
might lie over during the coming day.
I had two reasons for this.
In the first place I was growing tired.
_Though a good walkerI had done much
riding of late years, and this had spoiled me
in_a degree.
Besides, my adventures in the swamp and
subsequently, had been of a very trying
nature.
The other reason for my wishing to leave
the track was the fact that daylight was
coming on.
Already in the east the gray dawn showed
itself, and it would not be long before tramp-
ing along the track in this hostile country
would be a dangerous thing.
At last I discovered what I was looking
for.
An old barn stood some itty yards or so
from the railroad track, the house, belong-
ing to which must be some little distance be-
yond, for Icould not catch a glimpse of it.
Immediately leaving the track I made for
this barn,
THE WAR LIBRARY.
When I reached it I made a careful recon-
noissance before entering.
Believing everything to be in good order,
I opened the door and entered.
Already the dawn was so far advanced
that I could get. dim idea as to the nature
of the stable insiGe, and passing by the
horses in the stalls, I made for the rude lad-
der lending to the loft.
There was only a couple of a tons or so of
hay in the loft, but that was plenty for my
purpose.
I don't suppose I would make a good mole,
judging from the difficulty I encountered in
wedging my way under that hay.
In the end, however, I succeeded in ac-
complishing all that I desired.
pon this fact 1 was just congratulating
inyself, when_in attempting to move ona
little further I placed my hand upon a man's
eg.
The first thought which flashed through
my mind was, that a murder had been com-
mitted, and the body of the victim conceal-
ed here.
Even while my flesh was creeping with
the shudder that accompanied this thought,
I realized the absurdity of such a thing, for
it was not the cold, clammy limb of a corpse,
but the warm one of 4 living man. °
All this consumed only a second of time,
so rapidly does thought speed through one’s
n
“Who air you?” demanded a graff voice.
My mind was exceedingly active.
Iknew not who this nan was—rebel de-
serter, fugitive from justice, or escaped
Union prisoner, but the chances were ten to
one against his being a friend.
Ifelt pretty sure also that I had caught
the Southern inflection to his voice.
Atany rateI determined to be non-com-
mittal. .
“That is a question two can ask, my friend.
Who the deuce are you, and what are you
doing here?” I demanded.
Perhaps he recognized authority in my
voice, for I ineant it should be so.
Atany rate he realized that he had noth-
ing to fear from a man who was also desirous
of hiding.
“Well, if you must know, me and Dave,
here, air both deserters. We have had
enough o’ the war, an’ intend lettin’ them as
like it fight out the balance. Thar ye have
it in thick an’ thin ”’
“Just my case exactly. I, too, am a de-
serter. Isent a substitute to the war, but
that didn’t save me, and they tore me away
from my home. But they couldn’t hold me,
and here Tam on my way back South by
easy stages.”’
Isaw that if I played my cards well, I
could readily pull the wool over the eyes of
these two fellows, so I crept up closer to
them and shook hands as though glad to
meet them.
It was never light enough under the hay
for us to more than geta faint glimpse at
each other’s faces, and they did not dream
but that I wore the Confederate gray.
During my adventurous life asa war cor-
respondent, I have beenin some very strange
situations, but I cannot remember any that
were quite as singular as this.
As the hours passed on we conversed in
low tones.
They told meall about their life in the
army, how they lived near Richmond, and
how after dark on the coming night a broth-
er of one of them, with whom they had
communicated by tmneans of a darky, would
come to the old barn with a closed vehicle,
and thus take them home unseen.
They invited ne to go with them later on,
but thanked them and refused, stating
that I wished to give Richmond a wide cir-
cuit, as my home was in Georgia.
In return, I told thema long story about
myself.
iknew much of the history of a Georgia
regiment, and claiming to have been a mem-
ber of this I related several affairs through
which that regiment had passed recently.
Then they inquired respecting my home,
seeming to take a great interest in me,
Ihave since thought that it was an ex-
ceedingly lucky thing for me that I wasu
newspaper. correspondent, and capable of
drawing upon my imagination, else I would
have surely stumbled,
I gave them a glowing description of my
ideal home in Georgia, and excited their
liveliest interest.
Long about noon, I divided my edibles
with them, for which favor they were ex-
ceedingly thankful.
Soon after that the owner of the barn
came up and threw some hay’ down to the
bony horses below, one of which so closely
resembled the creature upon which I rode
forth upon the raid that I could have almost
sworn it was the identical animal.
The afternoon was tedious, but we varied
it by dozing.
At length the shades of night descended.
Looking out through a crack near mer
saw it grow darker than a pocket.
All at once there sounded a peculiar whis-
tle.
“That's for us. Good-by, partner. Per-
haps we may meet again when the war is
closed.”
They shook my hand and then crawled
out from under the hay, little suspectin
how close they had been all this while toa
hated Yankee.
Presently I heard a rumble of wheels, and
knew that Dave aud his friend were off.
I was alone in the old barn.
CHAPTER VII.
PETE.
I did notintend remaining long in that
place myself, now that darkness had fallen.
My way lay before me, and after the rest
Thad had I felt in good condition to resume
my journey.
Vaiting for about half an hour, I, too,
crawled out from under the hay and de-
scended the ladder. .
An idea now struck me.
Why not take one of those bony steeds?
Mounted even upon such a poor roadster,
I could double my speed.
At the same time would Inot double my
danger?
A mounted man could not vanish into the
bushes like one on foot, and garbed as I was
and with no answers for keen questions that
might be put to ine, it would not be long be-
fore I was tripped up.
Had I been well mounted and dressed in
Confederate gray, I might have assumed the
character of a courier heading for Lee’s
camp with despatches from the congress of
Richmond. .
Another thing that made me _ decide
against taking one of the horses was the
fact that the only route I knew was that
given mo by honest Pete, and that led along
the railroad track.
With a horse I should be compelled to
abandon this route and strike out along
some road which rau, 1 knew not whither,
and might take me direct into the camp of
General Lee.
Having made up my mind that it was far
safer for me to use ‘*Shank’s mare,”’ other-
wise my own legs, than to take a horse
when I had the chance.
Again upon the railroad track, I headed
north,
Thesky was cloudy and the night dark.
These things were favorable tor my re-
maining unseen, yet I had more than one
stumble and fall, so unevenly were the ties
placed.
Thinking this was too rough for my health,
Ieoncluded to tramp along outside of the
track.
Of this I soon got enough, for before five
minutes had passed 1 plunged into a hole
some four feet in depth which was doubt-
less a cattle-guard.
After that experience I walked on the
ties, believing that of two evils it was better
to choose the lesser.
My progress was slow.
I did not care to commit suicide, as 1 felt
sure another plunge into a hole would be
the death of me.
No sound broke the solemn hush of night,
eave my own footsteps upon the uneven
es.
My eyes were weary of the strain that
was necessary in order to distinguish where
to place my feet, and I was just deliberating
upon the possibility of waiting until the
moon arose, When in spite of the clouds I
would get sufficient light to see my way,
when I heard a slight noise to one side of
+
me. .
Instantly I came to a standstill.
Vainly Il endeavored to pierce the gloom
that surrounded me.
Once nore I heard the noise.
Undoubtedly it was some person or ani-
inal brushing through the bushes that bor-
dered the track,
“Who are you?” I demanded.
“Mars Richards, am dat you?’ camea
low voice which I fancied trembled.
I was thunderstruck.
Who under heaven could beaddressing me
in this benighted country, where I knew no
soul and no one knew me?
The voice was thut of a darky.
Ah! I recognized it now,