Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-07-24
Urfstett Sonraal.
adventure of a Spy.
az A NORTHERN RANGER.

S;nn for obvious reasons, it would not
= nolitic to state. Suspected of being
Nor herner, it was often to my advan-
,ore TO court obscurity. Known as a
.nS .short shrift'' and a ready rope
Tro,d have prevented the blotting of this
noper. Having, disguised, on the out
.trts Of camp, mixing with its idlsrs
laughing at their jokes, examining their
.,ms counting their numbers, endeav-
or;no to discover the plans of their lead
srs listening to this party and pursuing
tbahioning in the chorus of rebel song,
hating on rebel success, cursing abolition
;sm Teviling Lincoln, traducing Scott,
ertoIling Beauregard, despising Northern
6gbters. laughing at their tactics and
s1esriug at their weapons, praisIng the
besuty Of Southern bellies and decrying
that Il Northern, calling New York
den of cut,throats, and New Orleans
narsdise of immaculate chivalry, is but
: small portion of the practice of my
nrofession as q spy. This may not seem
honorable or desirable. As to the hon.
or let the country that benefits by the
investigations and warnings of the spy
be Judged; and the danger, often incur
rsi is more serious and personal than
that of the battlefield, which may, per-
hans, detract from its desirability.
Il was dark night. Not star on
the plimmer. had collected my quotum
Of Intelligence and was on the move for
the northern line.. I was approaching
the banks of a stream whose waters l had
70 cross, and had then some miles to trav-
erse before I could reach the pickets of
our gallant troops. A feeling of uneasi-
ness began to creep over me; 1 was on
the outskirts of a wood fringing the dark
waters at my feet, whose presence could
scarcely be detected but for their sullen
munnurs as they rushed through the
gloom. The wind sighed in gentle ac-
cordance. 1 walked forty or fifty yards
along the bsHk. 1 then crept on all
fours along the ground and CROPPED with
my hands, paused-I CROPPED again
my breath thickened, perspiration
oozed from me at every pore, and l was
Frustrated with horrorl l had missed
my landmark aud knew not where l was.
Below or above. beneath shelter of the
bank, lay the skiff l had hidden, ten
days before. whee l commenced my OPP
erations among the followers of Jefferson
Davis.
As stood grasping for breath, with
sll the unmistakable proofs of my calling
about me, the sudden cry of bird or
plunging of fish would act like magnet
ism on my frame, not wont to shudder at
shadow. No matter how pressing the
danger may be, if a man sees an open
ing for escape he breathes freedom. But
let him be surrounded by darkness i'm
penetrahle at two Yards distance, within
rifles length of concealed foes, for what
knowledge he has to the contrary know
mg. too, with painful accuracy, the de-
tecion of his presence would reward him
wiki = sudden and violent death, and if
10 brenthes no faster and feels his Limits
IS free and his spirits as light as when
taking tayorite promenade, he ia more
fitted for hero than l am.
In tho agony of that moment. in the
sudden and utter helplessncss felt to
discover my true bearings-I was about
to let myself gently into the stream and
breast its current, for life and dsath.-
There was no alternative. The North
ern pickets must be reached in safety be-
fore the morning broke, or I should soon
swing between heaven and earth from
some limb of the black forest in which
! stood.
At thet moment the low, sullen bay of
= bIoodhounl struck my ear. The sound
WAS rsvNing; the fearful stiffness broken.
The uncertain dread fed before the GER
tain Hanger was standing to my mid
Ola u tho shallow bed of the river, just
beneath the iutting banks. After the
panse Of few seconds / began to creep,
mechanically and stealthily, down the
stream, followed, as I knew from the
rlstIlng Of the grass and frequent break
OF twigs by the Unsuitable brute although,
By eertsin uneasy growls, 1 felt assured
be was at fault. Something struck
against my breast. could not prevent
sight cry from escaping me as strech-
ing out my hands / grasped the gunwale
Of a boat moored near the bank. Be-
tween surprise and JOY l felt half choked.
In m instant l had scrambled on board
and began searching for the painter in
the bow, in order to cast her from her
tastenings.
Suddenly q bright ray of moonlight
the first gieam of hope in that black
night fell directly on the spot, reveal
ing the silvery stream, my own skitf,
hidden there ten days before. } lighting
the deep shadows of the verging wood,
and on the log half buried in the bank,
and FROM which I had that instant cast
the line that 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
ont in the stream, and the savage after
it. With an oar l aimed blow at his
head, which, however, he eluded with
ease. In the effort thus made the boat
careened over towards my antagonist,
who made desperate effort to get his
f0repaws over the side, at the same time
selzlng hold Of the gunwale with his