The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-07-31
Adventure of Il Spy.
From The Ne,o York Ersniag Post !


obvious reasons, il would not be polite TO
state. Suspected of being a Norherrer, it
was often to my advantage TO court obscu-
rity. Known as spy ''shori shriit" and
ready rope would have prevented the
blot:ing of this paper. Hanging, disguised,
on the outskirts OF a camp, mixing with the
idlers, laughing at their jokes, examining
their arms, counting their numbers, en-
deavoring TO discover the plans of their lea.
ders, listening TO this party and pursuing
that, joining in the chorus of rebel song,
betting on rebel success, cursing abolition
ism, revling Lincoln, iraducing Scott, ex-
tolling Beauregard, despising Northfighlers,
laughing at their tactics and sneering a;
their weapons, praising the beauty OF Sonth-
ern bellies and decrying that of Northern,
calling New York den of cut ihroats, and
New Orleans paradise of immaculate chv-
airy, is bnt a small portion of the practice
Of my profession as spy. This may not
seem honorable or desirable. As 10 the
honor, let The country that benefits by the
investigations and warnings of the spy be
judge and the danger, often incurred, is
more serious and personal Than that of the
battle field, which may perhaps, delract
from its desirability.
Ii was dark night Not star on the
glimmer had collected my quota of in
telligence and was on the move for the nortn-
efn line. | was approaching the banks of a
stream whose waters | had 10 cross, and
had then some miles to traverse before
troops. A feeling of uneasiness began to
creep over me; was on the outskirt Of a
wood fringing the dark waters at my feet,
whose presence could scarcely be detected
but for their 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 Tie ground and CROPPED with my
hands - pauseG-I groped again-my
breath thickened perspira,ion oozed from
me at every pore, and was prostrated with
horror | had missed my landmark and
knew not where was. Below or above,
beneath the shelter of the bank lay the skifl
| had hidden, ten days before, when com-
menced operations among the followers Of
jeff. Davis.
As stood gasping for breath, with all the
unmistakabe proofs of my calling about
me, the sudden cry of bird or pungiag ot
fish would act like magnetism on my
frame, not wont TO shudder at shadow
No matter how pressing the danger may
be, if a man sees an opening for escape he
brealhes with freedom. But let him be
surfou nded by darkness, imPesetrabe al
two yards distance, within Tife's length oi
concealed foes, for what knowledge he has
10 the contrary knowing, too, with painful
accuracy, the detection of ais presence
would reward him with sudden and vio-
lent death, and if he brea:hes no faster and
feels his limbs as free and his spirit as light
as when takirg in favorite promenade, he
is more fitted tor hero than | am.
In the agony of that moment-in the
sudden and utter helplessness felt 10 dis
cover my true bearings-I was about TO lei
myself gently into the stream and breast It's
current, for life or death There was no
alternative. The Northern pickets must be
reached in safety before the morning broke,
or should soon swim between heaven and
earth from some limb of that black forest in
which stood.
AT that moment the low sullen bay of a
bloodhound struck my ear. The sound was
reviving the fearful Stiffness broken. The
uncertain dread fled before the certain dan.
ger. was Standing TO my middle in the
shallow bed of the river, just beneath the
jutting banks. After the pause of few
seconds began 10 creep, mechanically and
stealIhily down the stream, followed, as
knew from the rustling of the grass and
frequent breaking of twigs, by the insatia-
Bile brute; although, by certain uneasy
growls, | felt assured he was at fault
Something struck against my breast.
could not prevent slight cry from esca
ping me as stretching out my hands grasp.
ed the gunwail of boat moored beneath
the bank. Between surprise and Joy ieI!
half choked Ia an instant | had scrambled
on Uoafu anu peSdH eediCuliS ioi 'uo PaiH-
ter in the bow, in order to cast her from
her fastenings.
Suddenly bright ray of moonlight-th e
first gleam Of hope in that black night =
fell directly on the spot, revealing the sill
very stream, my own skiff (hidden there
ten days before,) fighting the deep shadows
of the verging wood, and on the log hall
buried in the bank, and from which had
that instant cast the line that had bound me
| to it, the supple form of crouching blood
hound, his eyes cleaning in the moonligh'
jaws distended and poising for a spring
With one dart the light skif was yards oui
in The stream, and The savage after it,
With an oar / aimed blow at his head
which however he eluded with ease. In