, 1861-07-03

T 1om LQe n ]. Evening fO8t4f
/ have lately returned from the South, bat
vlous reasons, it would not be polite to state.
Suspected Of being Northerne1, it was often
to nv advantage to court ohscufity. Known
as spy .'Ehort shift and ready rope
would have prevented the blotting Of this
paper. Hanging, disguised, on the outskirts
of camp, mixing With its idlers, Laughing at
their jokes, Examining their arms, counting
their numbers, endeayortng to discover the
plans OF their leaders, listening to this party
and Perusing that, joining in the chorus OF
rebel sorg, betting on rebel success, cursing
abolitionism, ,revfling Lincoln, t1aducing Scott,
fighters, laughing at their tactics and sneering
at their weapons, praising the beauty ofSoufh-
ern bellies a2d decrylng that Of Northern, call.
irg New York a den Of cutthroats, and New
Orleans paradise Of immaculate chiTalry, Is
but a small portion Of my profession "a spy.
As to the honor, let the country that 1t bcne-
fits by tie Investigations and warnings Of the
spy be judge; and the danger often incurred,
is more sersous and personal than that Of the
battlefield, which may, Perhaps, detract from
its desirability.
mer. ! had collected my quotum of intell!-
gencc and Vas On the move for the Northern
lines. I was approaching the banks of a
sire an whose waters had to cross, aud had
thtn ecmc miles to traverse before could
reach the pickets Of our gallant troops. a
feeling Of uneasiness began to creep over me
was On the ontskirt Of a wood ffipging the
scsrcely be detected but for their su1len mur.
mu1s as they rushed through the gloom. The
wind sighed in gentle accordance. ! walked
forty or fifty ysTds along the bank. I then
crtpt On all fours along the ground and CROPPED
! with my hands, paussd-I CROPPED again
my breath thickened, perspiration oozed from
me at 6Very pore, and was prostrated with
horror! bad missed my landmark and knew
not where WIS. Below or above, beneath
the shelter Of the bank, lay the sklff had hid
i den, ten days before, when I comm enced nv
operations among the followers Of JEFF Davis.
Al stood gasptng for breath, with all tbs
1n aumistakable Prosois Of ny calling about ne,
would act like magnetism on my frame, not
wont to shudder at shadow. No matter
how pressing the danger may be, if q man sees
an opening Tor escape he brcathes With free
dom. But let him be surrounded by dark
nees, impenetrable at tEo yards distance,
within rifles length Of concealed foea, for
what knowledge he has to the contrary
auoHing, toe, with painful accuracy, the de.
| lection of his presence would reward him
| with sudden and violent death, aud if he
brcathes 10 faster and feels his limbs as free
| ard spirits as light as when taking faYorits
| promenade, he is more fitted for hero than
| AM.
| In the agony Of that moment-in the sud.
| den and inter helplessness felt to discover
| my true beariDge-I was about to let mYsel1
| gently 1nto the stream and breast it's current
| TOR lite aId death. There was no alternative.
| The Northern ptckets mast be reached in safe
| ty before the morning broke, or should soou
| swing between heaven and earth from some
| green limb Of the black forest In which
| stood.
At that moment the low, cullen bay Of i
| bloodhound struck my car. The sound was
revivipg; the fearful stiffness broken. The
uncertain dl cad fed before the certain danger,
bed Of the river, just beneath the iutting
banks. After the panEe Of few seconds l
! began to creep, mechanically aud stealthily,
down the stream, followed, IS knew from
| the rust1ing Of the grass and frequent break.
ing OF twigs, BY the lnsatiable brute although
by certain ureasg growls, felt assured ht
| Eas at ta1l}t Something struck against my
t breast. could not prevent slight cry escap
ing me, as stretching ont my hands grAspeG
the gunwale Of a boat moored beneath tht
bank. Betwcen surprise and joy I felt hal
chosked. In M instant I had scrambled OF
the bow, in order to cast her from her fasten
Suddenly n bright ray Of moonlight -th.
first glcam Of hope in that bl.ck night tel
| cHtctIy On the spot, revealing the eilverJ
stresm, my Own skif, {hiddea there ten day!
t before,) lighting the deep shadows of tn
yerging wood, and on the log half buried il
the bank, and from which 1 had that instan
|: cast the line that had bound me to IT, the sup
pie form of the crouching bloodhound, hi
red eyes cleaning in the moonlight, java dis
tended and poising for the spring. With on
dart the Light sbif waa out IL the stream, ans
the savage after it. With an oar aimed
blow 1t his head, which, however, he eludes
with eaee. In the effort thus made the boa
careened over towards my antagonist, VIII
made desperate effort to ret his forepaw
t ever the ei1e, at the same time seizing hold o
The guuWa1e with bis teeth.
Now or never Was my time to- get rid Of the
accurscd brute. I drew my revolver ant
placed the muzz.e between his eyes, but hcsi
tated 10 fire, tor that one report might briny
strength Of the dog careened the frAil craft 81
! much that the water rushtd over the side
| threatening to swamp her. I changed M
tacilce, threw my revolver into the bottom o
the Ek;t, and graspcd my "bowie," keen a
q Malsy cteese, and glittcring, as l released
from the shtath, ike a moo0beam on tn
stream. In az instant had severed the stnew
threat Of the hound, cutting through Draw
and muscle to the nape Of the neck. Tue tt
nacicun FEe1ch gave wild conyulsivc lea
half ont Of the water, then sank and wa
gene. -
Five minrtes' pulling landed me on the ott
q side Of the river, md In an hour after, viii
cut further accident, was among friends, CT
compassed By the Northern lines, That nigh
Iel2te1 st headquarters the intelligence
b: d gathered, and in few days shall agai
be cleaning knowledge in the Southern canI
|