The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-07-20
Prom the NV Y,rs hsen ne Pust.l
ADyENTURE OF A Spy.

have lately returned from the Senth, but
my exact Whereabouts IN that region, for
otvioS reasons, It would hot be palitio tu
sta G. Suspected of being u SDrtherner, it
was often to my advantage 90 court obscu-
rity. known as spY a .'shlrt snrifs" and
ready rope would have prevented the blot
ting of this paper. Hanging, di.guised, 90
the outskirts OF camp. mtxing with its
ltlers, laughing at their ioke-, cxsmining
their ar,ns, counting their nun bers, enaeav-
s'ng To discover the plans Of their leaders,
listening to this party and perusIug that,
Jtning IN the chorus of rebel sang. bet.
ting on rebel success. curslng abolit,onism,
reviling Lincoln, traiucing Scott, ex.olhnr
Bsaurcgard, - despising Narlhern fighters,
ianghing at their tactics ard sneerlng of
their weapons. rrasiins the beauty Of South.
ern bellies and derryng that of Northern,
calling New fo. K ii d I'm Of cu:- thrnnts. AMI
New Orleans parad Sc Of in .i,s culate chiv.
AIRY, Is but small portion Of Inv profession
rs SPY. 1hi> may not seem hpaerahIa or
de-iiabie. Asto the honor, 1t the country
hat il benefits hv ihe Investigations and
warnings of the spy be judge; and the dam
ger often iBcnrred, is more srrIous and per-
sonal than that OF the bd,tlei Id. which may. |.
eC'dCt iIbul tiS Ht'siIiDllINs
IL was "a dark night. Not star on the
glimmer. ! had collected MY quetan Of
Intelligence and was on the move for the
Northern hines. | was approaching the
anks OF stream whose waters | had to
crnss. and had then susie miles to traverse
before could reach the ricka OF cur gall
liant troops. 4 'ing Of uneasiuess hegln
70 creep over me !; was oa the ouf,kirt Of
wood fr ngihg the da waters at nv fe I,
whose presence could scarcely BE- detec ed
hat Tor their su len mnrmurs n they rushed
through the gloon. 'fhe wind r,ph d 10
gentle acooriiance. ! walked foftg or ely
yards nl0rg the bank. | theo crept on ali
faprs along the grnunI ana gropad with my
hands: 81 p"us"d-l groped agaip-my
breath thrkcnsd. perspiration onapd from
me u. every pore, and was Frustrated wi,h
horror! had missed my landna,k aud
knew not where | was. Below or above,
henna'h the shelter Of The bank, lav the ii #
had hlidep, ten days before, WHEN com
menced INV operations among the followers
Of JEFF Davis. s..
a. stood easping for breath, with all
III" unnfs'akahle proofs OF mr eaiiiug
5ont mn tie sn'ddan cry Of bird af rlunr.
ing OF i-h won 4 act like M gnsiism ou my
frame. not wJnttn snader IT. a shadow. NJ
matter how pressing the danger mag br, il
man see an opening FOR escape he breatbcs
slth freedom. But let him be Surrounded
by darkness, impenc,rable stao yards dis
tansp, within rii ,'s ieneipoi Concealed furs.
for what knnwlsds b. has to the Genlrary /:
knowing. too, WITH painfn accuracy, the ia-
trcl,on pf hi, presence would reward him
,th s,,iR.n q IL, a - Il
hreathss ~ faster an feels his limi54 u fr e
aud spirits ~ light as wnen taxing q favor.
tie promenade, hs is more fitted for "a hero
than am.
In the nynpv Of that m ON ent - in the su J.
den and after heipessness felt to discover
nv true bearings 81 was about to LEI mv-eIf
gently into the stream anil bress. its cur.
rent. fsr life an1 dsata. Taece was M al.
tcrnntise. The Northern pcknts nut be
reached in safety before the morning broke.
or shsuli soua swing bntween hrayen and
earth from some green LIMB Of the black
forest in which / : ooI.
At that mon.ent the low, sbilsn bay Of n
blaed-housd struck my ear. The sound was
revirIn. the fearf,l .,iilpes. broken. The
uncertain dread fled before tbs castain dan
ger. Iwas standing 10 my middle in tb.
shallow he'd of the river. just benesih she
jur,ing ranks. After the pause 81 few
seconds began ~ creep, mechanically and
s,ealth,ly dasn tbs stream, followed, ~
knew from the rustling OF the grass and FIRE,
ausns breaking Of .wi,., by the Unsuitable
hru,e; although bv certain uneasy growls
1 | feIs assured hs vas at fault. Som.,hin:
struck against my breast. cauld not pre-
vent Sigh. cry ercspins me, as ssretchini
out my hands grasp the gunwal. of
/ bear moored bepra'h the bark. Ee,weei
surprise and joy felt half eh sksd. In N
in.ian, l had .erau.bisa ea toasd and be
gan searching f9r the painter 10 The bsu, Il
order 10 east Der fron, hes fa.,sning..
/ Suddenly brigh; ras nf nnnoniigt;--'h
FIRST CLEAN Of hope 10 that blsrk mig hs =.
fell direc'ls on the spas. revealing tbs s,I
/ very -srssm. nv oHa sksG (hiijsn there te
| dass before Lighting the deep sha.ovs Q
4 the verring wood, and n,she leg half buri
I ed in the bank, and from which haj tbs
instant cast the lias that bad bouad ue