The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-09-13

ycT green thoubh,I STcenef nuf lAurol-Dusu-
cs, and yc bar [bear BETTER" again'hc said
as he stuffed a huge handful of United States
notes into his pocket, and went on with his
dirty work. AT last he stopped before q
| coatless officer, with matted hair, only one
boot, tattered shirt, and no hat or neck-tie,
but in their stead II stained bandage, from
under which the blood still was trickling.
"Who'd ha' thought O raisin' SIGH crap
from SIGH a hill o beans" he said as he drew
from the pocket Of this officer roll larger
than usual, and in his greed paused to count
the money.
1--WE reap what we SOW" said the officer,
with look Of intense loathing; 'you are
sowing theft, you'll reap hell-fre-if live
to get out Of this prison
Yer sowin' greenbacks, and yen reap
dungeon, if We don't keep a civil tongue in
yer head, responded the fellow, with u bru-
tai sheer, as he went on down the column.
Ponto had kept close at the heels Of Rob
ert, and, following him into the prison, had
crouched down behind the line, and remain
cd unobseryed until the robbery was over.
Then dozen sentinels were ordered to take
the prisoners to their quarters, and, when
they began to move, the dog attracted the
notice of the Inspector. "Whose dog is
that" he roared as Ponto started up the
stairway, little In advance of his young
master.
Robert was about TO answer, but q kind
hearted sentinel, seeing from his looks that
the dog was his, touched him on the shoulder,
and whispered: "Not q word, Sonny! II
mought git ye inter trouble"
"Stop him. Cotch that dog.' shouted The
Inspector, as Ponto, hearing the inquiry,
and seeming to know by instinct that it re-
ferred to him, darted forward and disappear
ed in the room above. The Inspector and
two or three sentries pursued him, and
bounding after them two steps at time,
Robert soon saw what followed.
The room was Of the same size, and fur
nished in much the same way as the one be-
low stairs; but scattered about it, in mcsses
of fifteen or twenty, were more than two
hundred prisoners. In and out among these
prisoners, ran the dog and his pursuers. 1t
was an exciting chase; but they might as
well have tried to catch sunbeam or bird
without sailing its tail, as to take Ponto in
such crowd of friends. In and out among
them--crouching behind boxer, leaping over
barrels, running beneath benches, right I'M
der the legs of his pursuers-went Ponto, as
if ne were streak of lightning out on a
frolic; while the prisoners stood by, laugh
ing, and shouting and getting in the way as
much ~ possible, TO keep the loyal dog from
the CLUTCHES of his Rebel enemies. Half an
hour the chase lasted. Then the patience of
the Inspector gave out and, putting with
heat and anger, he shouted, Zone of you
shoot the --- critter''
A sentinel levelled his musket, but
Union man threw up the barrel. "Don't
fire here, he said, "youll kill some of u.s.
"Fire. - you, fire! Don't mind him."
shouted the enraged Inspector.
DO it, Dick Turner" said the man.
planting himself squarely before him, "and
Ill brain you on the spot" and-Turner
prudently omitted to order the shooting.
Taking advantage of this momentary lull,
Ponto dartcd mp into the officers room, and
was soon snugly hid away in the third story.
Batiled and exasperated, Turner turned to
the man, and. growing out, "Tll have my
revenge for this, my fine fellow" strobe down
the stairway.
Roberts quarters were in the room where
this scene occurred and his new messmates
received him very kindly They gave him
food bathed his aching, swollen limbs, and
soon made him a bed ON the floor, with
blanket for mattress, and Ponto for COW
erlet. lie was just falling into doze, when
he heard a voice At the landing ask, with an
oath, "Where is that dog" The lights were
out. but by the lantern which the man car
ried, the boy saw that he was short, slight,
dapper individual, with a beardless face, a
sneaking look, and consequential air,
which seemed to say: sect ont Of my way,
sir; am Thomas =. Turner. by profession
Negro wllipper, but now keeper of Libby
Prison, and | take of my hat to nobody
With him was the other Turner,--his tool,
and the fit instrument Of his contemplate
tyranny
No one answered the question, and the two
worthless CROPPED their way about the room
with the lantern. They caught sight of
Roberts mess just in time to see Ponto again
take himself off up the stairway. The sa-
gacious creature had heard the ungentle-
manly allnsion to himself. and. like sensi-
bic dog, determined to keep out OF such low
company.
With the aid of his Union friends, that
night and for week afterwards, Ponto baf-
fled his pursuers; but at last he was taken.
and, much against his will, was set Free
for, you know, it is only men that ever de-
serve to be shut up in prison. What became
of him Robert does not know; but if he is
living. he is a decent dog; if dead he has
gone where the good dogs go,-that is
certain.
$50, he is your dog 7" said Turner, halt
ing before Robert who had risen to his feet.
''He is, sir, answered the little boy in
respectful tone, .sand you will be cruel if
you take him away from me-"
Cruel! do you call me cruel!" cried Tur-
ner, flying into passion. ..I'll teach you
manners, you young whelp." Turning then
to his subordinate, he asked for the ..other
Yankee"
The prisoner who had forbidden the firing
was pointed out, and soon he and Robert was
escorted to a dungeon, down in the cellar,
under the sidewalk. The members Of Rob-
ert's mess told Turner of his exhausted con-
dition, and begged him not to consign tired,
sick boy to so horrible place,-at least to
but all they said was Of no avail They
might rs we'll have talked to an adder, for
an adder is not more deaf, nor more venom
GUS, than was that man.
So Roberts long, weary journey ended in
a dungeon. II was horrid dcn,-a low,
close, dismal place, with the floor encrusted
with filth, and walls stained and damp with
rain, which in wet weather had dripped down
from the sidewalk. Its every corner was
alive with vermin, and it seemed only fit
habitation for some ferocious beast, which
had to be shut out from the light Of day, and
kept from contact with all things human.
Yet into il they thrust sick, fragile boy;
and he would have died there but for the
kind hearted soldier who was with him. lie
wrapped him in his blanket; gave him every
morsel of his own food stretched himself
on the naked floor, and held him for hours
clasped to his own warm breast; and, in all