The Shasta courier., 1864-04-23
I" l have no horse.r replied Marsh.

have no horse" replied Marsh.
MY orderly has one which you can ride, ;
said the major. rising to his feet-which, by
| the way, were rather unsteady come. cap
tain, bestir yourself, we'll be off instantly.
But, major" demurred the captain,
we have no arms with u.s.
We don't want any, Mr.. Paul says there
is not particle of danger.u
- Very WELL says the captain, I'm
with yon in fact he was quite as anxious
to 60 as the major, but not quite so tipsy.
In few minutes they were in the saddle,
aad with the exultant scout for their guide
were galloring rapidly along the wild forest
wood. During the day Marsh had ascertain
ed the location of the pickets and videttes,
and when they arrived near their position, he
ms gs< tetour into the forest and avoid
ed t-s--. II ~-e unaecnstomed to sa1ch ex-
ploits, passing the lines under the circum-
stances wonld have been almost impossible.
They had passed several picket posts without
interruption, and our scout imagined himself
safely beyond their lines, and consequently
advancrd with less caution than at Grst. Sud-
denly the clear voice of watchful sentinel
commanded them to halt.
=" It's all up with us,' said the major,
we can tget out-hang the luck -
:" les we ean-leave it to me-" whispered
Marsh.
Who goes there % cried the sentinel. 5
"Grand rounds.' sad Marsh, desperately.
Dismount aud disarm. and advance one
and give the countersign,' - said the sentinel.
Marsh sprung from his horse and advanced
to the soldier. who stood ready to receive the
pass word. ~
My man" said he '' somehow or other
the countersign has leaked out and the BOYS
have got hold of it, and they are going out
on all sides of us, so we have changed the
counterslgn-lt is now Cross Reyes. and you
must must let no one out on the old one.''
They must say Cross Keyes instead of
Malvern Hill, must they?'
:" Yes, yes, my man, keep a sharp lockout
you'll be sargeant yet. Where's the next
picket post?"
. Down yon, By the old house."
9 Come on gentlemen" said Marsh to his
companions accordingly they rode up. and
he mounted his horse. and the trio rode past
the unsuspecting guard. He was halted by
the rext picket, as be took no pains to avoid
them, since he had the countersign; with this
he experienced no difficulty in passing.
Once beyond the rebel Ii es- he felt perfect.
ly safe and cantered along the road in hap
py frame of mind
4uI. Iaul, lOf UOQ sake hCW much fur.
ther is 1t :? l know we have ridden at least
five miles, said the major at last.
Only short distance now" returned
Marsh
Pm deuced glad of it, said the major
" for some how don't feel half so sentimen
tai and romantic as | did awhile ago. Real.
ly wouldn't ride another mile to see the
prettiest woman in the Old Dominion.
The devil what's tb,t s,JJo,lx ~
claimed the captain, as they rode upon the
crest OF slight eminence, and saw a long
line of camp fires before them, less than a
mile distant ~
I" The Yankee camp. by Jovc. ~ cried the
MAJOR, IN astonishment. Gentlemen, let's
skedaddle.' He turned his horse around to
flee, but Marsh caught it firmly by the bri-
die: MAJOR, you are my prisoner" be ex-
claimed
What's up now q said the captain
E" You are my prisoner, also," replied
Marsh, producing a revolver. ;. The frst
who attempts to escape will bite the DUST"
4" What's this Mr.. Paul? ?'' said the major
=" | am Marsh, the Yankee scout" return
ed the other calmly. The person whom
your authorities have twice sentenced to be
hung as spy, and escaped once from Libby
prison and once from Castle Thunder
: The ID exclaimed both in a breath.
Making them ride before him, the scout
brought his prisoners into camp and handed
them over to the proper authorities, and then
repaired to our head quarters to impart such
information as he had obtained.