The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-07-27

4
ed 10 suffer p
That i. as the case now stands" be
answered turning away bis head.
This is unjust aud cruel :" said |,
isiry trembling at the thought of being
20 ignominiously y cut of in the prime of
ny life
IL pity you, my friend but yeu are
soldier, and know that am compelled to
obey the orders of my superiors p rejoin
ed the coioDel in tone that expressed
his deep commiserstion.
II exhonerate you," said /, grasping
his hand "and whether live or die, |
say, God bless you, from my very heart /"
! | unused few moments, and then in
quired in what manner, and how soon !
was to be sent to my destination.
"Yuu will be hand cutfed," replied the
colonel, "for my orders in this respect
are positive, and within an hour, or at
least rwo, will set off under the guard of
Two men, who viii escort you to the rail.
road station on foot, and thence in cars"
"Iiow far frcu here to the station,
| Colonel -
between six and seven miles by the
main road two miles less by a cross
route only travelled on foot"
Through what kind of country does
| the foot ruute pass
wild, rugged, and thinly settled"
looked Lim straight in the eye, and
/ | felt he understood me.
Shall | go by the nearest way"
"If you wish-for the main road is
much blocked up by army teams, cavalry,
aud 80 forth
"Of course you Will hold the men re
>ponsible for my safe delivery at New
Vile T. | said, in low meaning tone.
He nodded
They would be tlamed-perhaps
punished
But not unto death, Colonel?"
Hardly. / think
"CrinneI," said |, graspiug his hand
aud trembling with hope, at the same
lime making sure there was DO other lis-
,ener, and speaking in very low tone,
i could ouly set out with a flask of
'nug2ed liquor IN my possession, and my
irons 10 nearly severed that / could burst
heul apart, there is one name that |
would ever remember in my prayers"
! The colonel looked at me tixedly for
nalf a minute, and then silently grasped
NY hand aud squeezed it hard. He bade
ne remain where | was, and hurried
away | did not see him for an hour,
when he came with man who put the
nous upon NY wrists He then selected
Two mrn, and gave them orders TO see NE
safely delivered to the provost marshal of
Neville, but 10 use no more harShness
Than strict performance Of their duty
| regnred
You will take the nearest route to
/ he railway station, across the fields" he
continued, land thence proceed in the
cars to Iour destination. You must not
loose sight of your prisoner during your
journey, aud should he attempt to escape,
y"u sill BE- ju>rit. IN shooting him.
You viii now have half an hour to make
hs, prepa' stione you wish"
Soon after this, the colonel managed to
slip fax inside the hosom of my shirt,
Say ing as he did So:
"You have your wish, and maY God
prosper your design. As an honorable
gentleman, | Of fcourse hold you bound to
lnviolable secrecy, and to use no more
torce or violence, under any circumstan,
ces, than what may be absolutely neces-
Sary 10 secure your escape !"
"Rest assured, my noble friend, your
confidence in me is not misplaced !" re-
turned |, in faltering voice and with
tear dimmed eyes land it shall be my
constant prayer that, should the dark
hour Of trlbulation ever come to you, you
will find returned that kindness and msr-
cy which you have shown to fellow NOR.
tai in distress :"
The colonel who was visibly affected
DOW took his fDal leave Of NE, with the |
remark that it would not be prudent for
him to hold any further conversation with
ne. lie bade .ue farewell in a voice |
touched with emotion, walked hurriedly
away. and | saw him 10 name.
A, the time appointed the two men
returned and took charge of me, and We
nmediateIy set off on our journey. For
mlle We remained in sight of the camp /;
aud then, passing over the brow of asteep
elevation, we descended to wild, rugged
hollow, with trees, rocks and hills on ev.
cry of US. Perhaps there would be no
better opportunity than the present to try
my chance for life aud liberty and nerv-
ing myself for the effort, en- which SO
much depended, | said:
Boys, feel little low spirited, and
would like to ask favor of you"
well, what is it 2" inquired one Of