The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-05-23
him, cut him down, or to pass without

Il decided in favor of the latter--for
| could not bear the thought of killing
the poor fellow, as | might otherwise be
obliged to do, aud l believed it would be
an easy matter to crawl past him while
his back was toward me. This l did sue
ceed in doing but just as l thought my
self safe, my foot loosened small stone,
which rolled down a slope behind me, and
stopped almost at the feet of the sentry.
"'Who goes there 2 suddenly demand
ed a stern, harsh voice, and at the same
time l heard the ominous click of tie
cooking of his rifle.
Il was on my hands and knees, in the
act of rising but without seconds
consideration quietly stretched myself
out flat on the earth, and remained per-
fectly motionless and silent--though half
expecting ball to pass through my back
at any moment within the next minute
when to my great relief, | heard the SEN
try uncock lis gun and resume his walk,
muttering to himself in a very low tone.
'It may readily be believed, that after
this it required extra care and caution to
get away unperceived but l succeeded
in doing it, and was congratulating myself
on my lucky escape, when there came
another, imperative and differently toned :
"'Halt Who goes there 9
''This time knew I saw man stand
ing within six PAGES of ME, with gun lev
elled and ready to fire. A tree in the di-
rect line of his beat from where l stood
had prevented my seeing him until he
hailed, and now it was for me to decide
between holding parley, and probably
being seized as II prisoner, perhaps a spy,
or turning and flying, with the risk of be-
ing Slot, and, in any event, of having all
my nicely-laid plans defeated. hardly
know what decided me-rather instinct,
L think, than reason--but scarcely had |
comprehended my peril, than l resolved
myself a very intoxicated individual.
"I-I'm friend, l hiccoughed, letting
my body sway to and fro, as ii rather top
heavy. I'm little-(hic ia little
tight my comrade--a little hic )-loose
in the legs, and all that (hic) sort of
thing-but-but that's nothing (hic) so
don't you shoot
"'Well, who are you and what are
you doing here . returned the sentry,
advancing to me, with the muzzle of his
weapon still covering my body. 4 shall
have to arrest yon.'
"'Dont do it, l hiccoughed; I--rll
only get into the guardhouse, aud you
may get (hic) drunk yourself some time ,
''He now too hold Of me, peered into
my face, and laughed. That laugh was
one of the most welcome sounds | ever
heard l felt as if it lifted death from
my body. He asked to what regiment
l belonged and how l came to be
there I remembered the name of reb-
el regiment of cavalry that had given us
some trouble, and named it boldly, thus
stalking my life, as it were, upon my an
swer. Fortune favored me.
'.sYou belong to brave set of boys,
he replied, and it would be pity to bring
you into disgrace. know Pm not doing
exactly right to let you go but if you'll
manage to keep me out Of trouble, you
may pass. Go straight back to camp,
and don't show yourself out this way
again, or shall certainly arrest YOU
Il promised compliance, swore eternal
friendship, shook hands with him and
staggered away. After going few steps
| stopped, reeled back, and told him the
cursed whiskey had muddled me into
forgetting the countersign. He was kind
enaugh to refresh my memory, and l went
on my way rejoioing, getting more sober
in fewer PAGES, than any drunken man
ever did before.
1.-The next sentinel that stopped me re-
ceived from my lips the magic word, in E
bold, clear, confident tone. Thus with
out further trouble | entered the very
heart of the enemy's camp, and knew il
detected my doom would be a halter.
81 carelessly sauntered around, and
wherever discovered group of men il
conversation, ! drew near enough to over
hear their remarks, without making my
self conspicuous, or attracting partiulal
attention. The fight of the day previ
Gus was everywhere being freely discus
sed !; and if their own version of the af
fair was true, we had been most terribly
whipped, and would soon be annihilatec
to a man. Savage threats of what they
would each and all do when next they
should meet the id Yankee towards
were boldly proclaimed from every quar-
ter, and received with plaudits of delight
There was one obstinate unbeliever in
their prowess among them, but this they
did not know, and it was not my specia
L -