Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-08

| soon, also, began 10 thlnk OF Daylight, tOeiore
which had many hours.) and to wonder how |
.rolld secrete myself after sunrise | did not
feel hungry bu had not gone far before felt
the faint long'ngs Of thirst
The ground, too, over which travelled, was
not all meadow land, and had worse features than
grass-swords and gravel bullets. did not fad
many fences, bot crossed innumerabe small
streams and one heavy hedge
noticed that by degrees, Judging from the
sound, the rebel troops we're getting by, only
dropping along finally 10 dish-water drbets,-and
that, at last, but scattering bodies OF infantry, and
At intervals some wagons occupied the road, NOV
ing like dark HOLSTERS in the midnight mst'. |
could not take to it myse T. because Of them and
! knew too well how full it would be OF straggers,
those worthless gIeanlngs Of an army even after
the rear-guard had swept onwards. Bot did
not hesitate to erect my body from It's voluntary
aoasement, and to make walking branch Of my
exercise, when convinced that only yagrans could
chance to see me. They never capture pri'vners
on either side. Thus Yves enabled for two hours
before run-rise to accomplish more than twice as
much as my five hours rolling abors bad attained.
The oogexpeoted rain began to all in heavy
mist at about dawn, and shortly grew in lmpor
and it became settled pour Most fortunately,
by that time had entered some Of the frat woods
we had passed through in the lourney Of the pre-
yous day, and had tair shelter rom Aurora, not
Puyiu,) within my reach. Il was colossal pep
per-box i'd, tina. could keep men from seeing
through IT, but not the rain from dropping in nv
FIRST impulse was to make fire, so chilled to the
very marrow was ! in the early morning air, that
chiest of all atmosphere, and so vet was | also
in my light summer garments. But Of course
prudence mad no word in that matter, nor any
countenance for suggestion so reckless and my
soherer senses got TO casting about for a fitting
ttreat ere broad day lay before me. | must re-
connoitre, | thought dripping at every poAt, like
a convict 10 the Marshes before | continued
tramp here that might expose me to scouting
party al any moment. That hunger, too, which
mad not troubled me in the night hours, came up
on me nov and urged every suggestive hints. /
had made a cup Of my hands more than once, and
slked my thirs from the streams in my way,
Naicissus- fashion but nothing solid had passed
my lips for seventeen hours. First logs and
leaves for cover, thea food, then critical exam
naton Of my position, we're my offsets, as has
lily settled my plans. The thought Of the intelli
gent contraband, so b.yond ordinary human tx
cellence in the richness Of bis heart, who might
minister 10 all my wants, las without question
many such had done to my distressed brethren
Ayng from Libby) and whose homely traits be-
come to US golden virtues in moments Of suffering.
crossed my brain as the depression Of hunger in
creased. Very dim visions Of clean and savory
cooking haunted me as took off my boots and
shook the water from them. could not imagine
anything to equal in value good stesk or hot
hash nor could check my feeling Of discontent
hopeless feeling at having many time and oft
partaken OF like yand', perhaps, unappreclstivey.
The shiny dirt Of my uppers solled my hands, as
| endsayored to make myself less uncomfortable,
aud | took the shirtsleeve from my neck as the
driesi article about me upon which TO wipe them.
Near by lay the trunk Of large walnut-lree,
water-ogged and growing sponge moss and
small bushes like coral reefs in this sea Of troubles
were on all sides Of me, had not accomplished
much when heard distinctly the sound Of buge
1t was, supposed, about half a mile distant
but there was no knowing how near the wet horse
men whom it sgnalled might be to my proposed
hiding place; and, accordingly, got hastily down
by the walnut, good sluirel-cover, without
shelter or head-piece. lay along that side Of it
which was farthest from the road, and burst not
move for fear OF capture The woods we're quite
thick at that place and from the hidden pathway
(now become scarce highway body OF the en-
emy might emerge at any moment. The unwel-
come music OF their bugle broke the Sabbath
stiffness of the morning, and interrupted the har-
mony Of the falling rain-drops as they psttered
through the great cathedral branches overheard
spent, presume, two hours in this lazy manner
~ II ,ra dar fa
look about me- during ths first half Of that Pc
rod heard the bugle thrcs send its clear, ring
ing noles-ior it is sometimes lark throated-
through the tree-asles and under the hafarches
above me, the tones lingering in waves on the air.
and no. failing to startle me. AT the first COM
msndng blast got to watching for the troops
that did not come forth tall. Being quite three
grasshopper's flights from he road could recon-
noiire the few reds Of it passing near me with COM
paratiye -ase and safety, and the lntsntnsss of my
lookout drove thoughts OF discomfort from my
head. The silence grew oppressive TO one who
had been perforce so long alone. The thought
that at times man has TO avoid his fellow-beIngs
in bis misery, lest bis misery be augmented, was
productive Of tender feeling of setpty in my
bosom, which, perhaps (strange to say,) was a
source OF comfort to m9 had, found, awak
eued present sympathy in my case, the passive
part Of my nature havlLg enlisted It's kindly feel
lpgs in bshalt Of the bespat cred, dripping gentle
man who lay there before it, sad mass OF oo2e,
soaking on wet leaves. was growing reflective
over nv woes, when the second blast broke upon
my elr, and | started much as young ladies' DO at
the sudden gun which, on the boards, sends the
uuholY taspag to MS account
7 l., unrd was WDro ouf W and hungry .
and had become SO unslTung, in the accumulated
dscomforts Of the roll from rsbeldom, and The
rain of the last stages Of my journey, that could
not control my growing nervousness. Having
waited full hour from The third signal.call OF the
busle, | Jumped desperately to my eet, With a
mind made up to hazard every thing. Many un-
lucky fellows, escaping from their captors, have
toed with wonderful energy. and have failed,
when wo,tny OF Immediate success, It we rate
them BY (Lhe war standardl their bravery and
o1oness. They sucoumO 10 fever, and desptr
! finally, but few moments ere the object OF tnelr
/ tolls would drop before them. /! Is lll-ady.sed
ever to cast ONES hopes adrlit as long as hie is IN
us,-an lmpruuenue ul wnloh myself was Bud,N
and whcn might have carried me back TO hra-
dom. The dragging anchor may hsten, spell.
bound by some iuke-enamJred reef aS the yvssel
seoms uu tue pont OF striking. jumped to my
ieel IL desperation, aud walked haslly lew rod,
nearer home. allowed no after thought in the
premises, but decided to dodge from tree 10 tree,
like the hunting lndIau, as long as my present
humor impelied me-
know not hos far | adyanvsd thus, through
the most despsrats (out to the reader whom
eommiserate, least interestingly stage Of my adven
ture,--nor anything OF my thoughts or emotions,
alter the hot resolve had taken hold OF me. was
iu fsvsr, mad fever, the evidence Of cold, and
the handiwoIk Of the past nights rolling mill, and
doubt not was entirely unhtted 10 eyade the
-. INN nu..nn.n nl A..rL IL Nm Id mi