The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-08-22

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with its idlers, laughing at their
jokes, examining their arms, count
ing their numbers, endeavoring to
discover the plans of their leaders,
listening to this party and pursu-
ing that, joining in the chorus of a
rebel song, betting on rebel success,
cursing abolitionism, reviling Lin
coin, traducing Scott, extolling
Beauregard, despising Northern
fighters, laughing at their tactics
and sneering at their weapons,
praising the beauty of Southern
bellies and decrying that Of North
ern, calling New York den Of
cut-throats, and New Orleans q
paradise of immaculate chivalry, is
but a small portion Of my protes-
sion as a spy.
1t was a dark night. Not a star
on the glimmer. [ had collected
my quotum of intelligence and was
on the move for the Northern lines.
| was approaching the banks of a
stream whose waters | had to cross,
and had then some miles to tra-
verse before | could reach the pick
cts of our gallant troops. A feel
ing of uneasiness began to creep
over me; l was on the outskirts of
a wood fringing the dark waters
at my feet, whose presence could
scarcely be detected but for their
sullen murmurs as they rushed
through the gloom. The wind
sighed in gentle accordance. !
walked forty or fifty yards along
the bank. | then crept on all fours
along the ground and groped with
my hands i paused i gropet
again-my breath thickoned, per
spiration oozed from me at every
pore, and l was prostrated witt
horror l had missed my land
mark and knew not where l was
Below or above, beneath the shell
ter of the bank, lay the skitf 1 haG
hidden, ten days before, when
commenced my operations among
the followers of Jeff. Davis.
AS stood gasping for breath,
with all tho unmistak9hlo nrOOfs
of my calling about me, the sudden
cry of a bird or plunging of fish
would act like magnetism on my
frame, not wont to shudder at a
shadow.
AT that moment the low, sullen
bay of a bloodhound struck my ear,
The sound was reviving; the fear
full stiffness broken. The uncertain
dread fled before the certain dan
ger. I was standing to my middle
in the shallow bed of the river, just
beneath the jutting banks. After
the pause of a few seconds | began
to creep, mechanically and stealth
lily, down the stream, followed, as
knew from the rustling of the grass
and frequent breaking of twigs, by
the Unsuitable brute; although, by
certain uneasy growls, I felt assured
he was at fault. Something struck
against my breast. Icould not pre-,
vent a cry from escaping me as
stretching out my hands | grasped
the gunwale of a boat moored be,
meath the bank. Between surprise
and JOY 1 felt half choked. In an
instant 1 scrambled on board, and
began searching for the painter in
the bow, in order to cast her from
her fastenings.
Suddenly a bright ray of moon,
light-the first CLEAN of hope in
that black night-lay directly on
the spot, revealing the silver stream,
my own skif, (hidden there ten
days before) lighting the deep
shadows of the verging wood, and
from which had that instant cast
the line which had bound me to it.
the supple form of the crouching
bloodhound, his red eyes cleaning
in the moonlight, jaws distended
and posing for the spring. With
one dart the light skiff was yards
out in the stream, and the savage
after it. With an oar | aimed a blow
at his head, which, however, he
eluded with ease. In the etfort
thus made the boat careened ovel
towards my antagonist, who made
a desperate effort to get his fore
paws over the side, and at the same
time seized hold of the gunwal'
with his teeth.
Now or never was my time t.
: get rid of the accursed brute.
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