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__. THE WAR LIBRARY.
19
taken from the holster, and: which I relied
on very much.
Our steeds could go no faster, and yet,
glancing back now and then, I saw, some-
what to my alarm, that our enemies gained.
Whether their gain was rapid enough for
them to overtake us before we reached the
. Union lines, I could not definitely say, but
was inclined to that opinion.
We were now close upon the portals of
what seemed to me the gateway of death,
for the trees grew so closely along the edge
ofthe road that their branches arched it,
and even though thesun was almost at its
meridian, it was dusky at this point.
For the first time I noticed the figure of a
ma at the beginning of this natural arch-
wh
Iho was clad in gray uniform, and clutch-
ing a gun half raised to his shoulder, stood
with one foot thrown forward.
I knew his intention.
He meant to disable one of our horses as
we passed, and this he would have no
trouble in accomplishing if allowed to have
his own way, for being so close to us at this
narrow point of the road, all he would have
todo would be to thrust out his gun and
re.
The golden sunlight fell full upon his face.
-I could see the demoniac glare in his eyes,
the set expression of his countenance, and
knew full well he was determined upon his
course of action.
Plainly then this wasn man to be feared.
Luckily he was upon my side of the road,
I watched him closely.
As we drew near, his fingers clutched his
gun more firmly, and at last the weapon
sought his shoulder, so that he might be
ready, though five seconds must elapse be-
fore we came within range.
This was my opportunity.
Hastily throwing up the arm that held the
revolver, I fired without aim, but this was
not the first time I had done so with success.
The bullet struck home, and as we swept
by the last Isaw of the fellow he wassquirm-
iug about endeavoring to ram the muzzle of
the gun into the ground, no object being
apparent except his misery.
eanwhile our pursuers in the rear were
bearing down upon us at full speed, and in
a determined manner that told they meant
business.
That there were further trials before us I
felt sure, and yet I did not guess the nature
ot them.
Turning a sbarp curve in the road, a sight
unfolded itself that very nearly took my
breath away, and I could not keep back the
ejaculation of chagrin and astonishment
that forced itself to my lips.
A very short distance down the road the
rebels had erected a rude breastwork, so
that some opposition might be made in case
the Yankees again advanced over this road.
Behind this breustwork of logs, stones and
earth crouched a dozen men, who had been
so intently engaged in looking in the direc-
tion of the Federal camp that they really
knew nothing of our presence until we were
upon them,
I took in the whole situation at a glance.
We could not stop or turn aside.
All that remained was to push on, and
head our horses at the obstruction.
If they were of any account they ought to
be able to clear it, for had noticed that it
was only up to the breast of a medium sized
man standing behind it.
‘“*Forward, Pete! Take the leap!” I cried.
Our rush was like the whirlwind.
The rebels, crouching behind their cover,
turned, asthe thump of our horses’ hoofs
struck their ears—turned to see a cloud of
dust bearing down upon them as though a
cyclone were hurling itself down the road.
“Almost before they could collect their
senses We were upon them.
They crouched closer to the works.
When it seemed as though they were
about to be run down, they saw two horses
arise in the air, become outlined against the
clear sky for a second, and then, like me-
teors, flash out of sight.
Our horses took the leap beautifully.
The crouching rebels were so amazed, both
at our sudden appearance and the fine style
with which our horses took the leap, that
they did not fire a shot or attempt in any
way to stay our progress.
1 doubt very much whether any of our
pursuers took the leap over the wall,
asit was preferable to pass around the ob-
struction.
They continued the pursuit, however,
gained rapidly.
It was at this critical juncture that I saw
ahead of us four rebel horsemen stretched
and
in a row across the road, and evidently de-
termined to stop us.
a A word to Pete told him what we must
0 '
As we drew nearer to them we crouched
low in the saddle,
{ could see that they had “no: pity on us,
and were only waiting until we came up, In
order to use the bright sabers they had al-
ready drawn, and my mind was fully made
up regarding our course.
When we were within a few leaps of
them, Pete and myself suddenly drew in
our steeds.
Then, rising in our saddles, we sent the
bullets in volleys among them,
They had played directly into our hands,
and we soon had the satisfaction of seeing
our way clear,
The four horses were flying like the wind
in all directions, but only one man remained
in his seat, and he wounded and terrified,
clung with both arms to the ueck of his
steed asit bore him swiftly away.
Again we resumed our headlong dash.
The time we had lost in this maneuver
had been put to good advantage by our pur-
mn
They were now so close to us that the
began to fire, and the bullets whistled about
our ears. .
I saw that they would very probably
come up with us before we could gain the
oy hs
What could be done?
Our case looked desperate,
We urged our horses on, but the animals
were doing their prettiest, and there was no
hope from that quarter.
Nearer came the rebel riders.
Turning in the saddle, while my horse was
still dashing like mad along the pike, I sent
the remainder of my large revolver’s con-
tents back at them.
Ihad the satisfaction of seeing one horse,
struck by a ball, throw its rider in among
the trees, While a second fellow suddenly
drew rain and turned back, having no
doubt seen enough of the affair after re-
ceiving the beuefit of a leaden ball.
The others were swooping down upon us
like so many hawks, and just as cruel and
remorseless.
A bend was beyond it.
As we swept around it my eyes were glad-
dened by the sight of the boys in blue.
‘Iwo score of them crouched in the road,
ready to receive the on-rushing rebels.
The ranks opened to let us through and
then closed.
Ten seconds later our
around the turn like mad.
Seeing their danger they attempted to pull
up, butit was too late, for with a crash a
score of muskets rang out,
Then came a second volley that played
havoc with the cavalrymen, only two of
whom escaped.
Five minutes later Pete and I rode into
the, Union camp, and we were under the
stars and stripes at last.
pursuers came
CHAPTER XNII.
BROKEN FETTERS.
Words could not picture the satisfaction I
felt when I found myself once more in a
Federal camp.
Allthat I had gone through with seemed
more likeadream than ought else—a hor-
rid nightmare from which I had awakened
to find myself again under the protection of
the old flag.
Ilost no time in writing letters to my
paper in New York, and although accounts
of Kilpatrick’s invasion of Richmond had
been given soon after the event, the writers
did not have the opportunity that had been
granted to me of being with the .expedi-
tion itself, and I have been told that my
letters, filled with a glowing description of
the dashing venture, attracted much atten-
tion at the North. .
My first desire now was to see Pete united
to his loved ones.
Then I meant to go to New York, spend
some time there, and join the army again
before any engagement could take place,
Pete soon found a purchaser for his_ horse
and I for mine, for, seeing that I could not
take the animal with me, I believed it just
as well to get rid of him at a fair valua-
tion.
Then we made for Washington.
Leaving this place we headed for old Caro-
line county, and the place where Pete had
formerly lived.
Isaw that the poor fellow was laboring
under the most intense emotion.
The nearer he drew to his old
more powerful became this strain
I knew what caused it. . :
First there was the natural feeling that
must come to any one who had been’ for
years separated from his loved ones.
Then again, had his wiferemained faithful
to him in all these years?
hen a slave was sent south from old
Caroline he was looked upon as dead b
companions, for not one in a hundred was
ever seen by them again.
Perhaps his wife, believing he was dead to
her, had sought relief in wedding another, ‘
and the chances were that her master did
not care to have any widows around.
The last aud most terrible cause fora pain-
ful suspense Jay in the question: Were they
livingordead?
Igatbered much of poor Pete’s thoughts
and fears from words which he let fall at in-
tervals, and did all that lay in my power to
comfort him.
At last we reached the plantation.
It was owned by a Mr. Placide, a gentle-
man who had _ been inclined to favor the
cause of secession until he saw, in a visit
through the populous and wealthy North
after the breaking out of the war, the grim
determination to subdue the South, if it took
twenty years, and not only drained the na-
tional treasury butevery drop of loyal blood
from the veins of the people.
Then his feeling underwent a radical
change, and he saw the evil of secession,
There were many men in debatable
ground before the war, who were loud in
their plaudits of the bold action of the
South, simply because it was generally be-
lieved that when thematter came down toa
fine point, the North would never lift a hand
to prevent the South from going out—that
they dared not and could not.
These men changed like the weather-cock.
When this delusion about the disinclina-
tion of the North to war upon their breth-
ren was broken by the presideut’s call for
seventy-five thousand men, and the readi-
ness with which all loyal governors prom-
ised to supply twice or thrice the number of
men asked for, such men as Pete’s old mas-
ter were thunderstruck, and from that hour
uo more stanch supporters of the Federal
government could be found.
The president had at the beginning of the
year emancipated all slaves in the states
that had seceded.
This was to punish the rebels for their
work.
There could be but one outcome, and this
must be the setting free of all slaves in the
few slave states that had remained loyal to
the government.
Already the question was being agitated
in Maryland, and only one obstacle stood in
its way.
Would the Federal government pay for
enon. slaves of loyal subjects as were set
ree
It seemed but just that this should be
one.
At anyrate ere many months had gone
by, the state of Maryland would abolish
slavery.
Then Pete’s loved ones would be free.
The first person we ran across was an
old slave woman who looked at Pete as
though he were a ghost risen from the dead.
“ Aunty, for de Lor’s sake tell me, am dey
alibe—my wife an’ picaninnies? You
knows me—Pete, wat was sold souf five years
ago.’
The old woman caught her breath while
upon her face a glow of intense satisfaction
came,
Like most of her race she could not give a
direct answer but had to beat around the
bush a little.
‘* Bress you honey, am it really you?) De
age ob miracles am surely come ag’in. On’y
dis yer mornin’ I war a talkin’ ’bout youse,
an’ wonderin’ ef you was yet alibe. Dis
yar am wonderful,’””
‘Bui my wife, my children,’ groaned the
almost distracted negro.
“T war jest a comin’ to dem ar wen you
‘rupted me, honey. Pore Dinah, she done
hab aheap ob trouble, but dar ain’t any
more for her now,”
“What! om she dead?” Pete groaned
again.
“De Lor’ forbid. I mean, chile, dat now
youse am hyar dar am no more trouble for
her, She hab pined for you all dis time.
Guinea Jack he wanther to marry him but
shesay no.an’ when he war gwine to be rough
she showed him a knife an’ donetole him
dat war for his brack heart if he ebberspeak
toher agin ’bout marryin’. I was dar an’
heard it all, an’ I don’t tink dat man’d want
home the
his.