Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-12

number may be about five thousand"
THAT will do" cried the old woman with
a grin of satisfaction, Eyes that will do.
And now you are sure that the man who
came here to buy supper is the one you
are after?"
1--WE are sure of it, for although we
have never seen the mans face, we'd know
him by his double-barreled rifle, as nobody
else III the Yankee army carries a weapon
of that kind"
Gay, ay, it's the right one, then," said
the hag. After he had finished and paid
for his meal, he says to me, Friend, |
should like to put up here for the night, if
you have no objection.' But as / did not
like the idea of accommodating Yankee
any more than | could help, told him there
was no room for him, as | expected visitors
before many hours We'll, then,' says he,
can you tell me of any place where | can
pass the night a little comfortably. You
see,' he added, looking toward his big
doubIe-barrelIed rife. Il don't like to
camp out, as it looks like rain, and this
piece might be hurt by it. / know Of no
place. | answered, short of four miles from
here-an old barn which is tight enough, |
think, to keep off the rain Four miles is
pretty long distance said he, and as |
have been tramping about considerably to-
day, | don't feel much Ike carrying this
heavy load SO far pointing to his KNAPP
sack as he spoke. Will you be kind
enough to let it remain till morning? well
yes said |, hesitating a little, and throw
ing significant glance at the well-filled
pocket book in his hand. He understood
the look and gave me a greenback dollar
All right said |, and he then departed,
saying he'd call for his luggagein the morn
ing, after he should waken from his sleep
in the barn Now then,' continued the
speaker which will ye do-go after him
at once, or wait in ambush for him until
morning ~
The two soldiers drew back few PAGES
and held a short consultation, after which
they again advanced to the side of the old
woman.
1--WE will go now,o said the one who had
spoken first, that is if you can describe
to us the exact position of the barn"
Il don't think could describe it so that
you could find it III the dark" replied the
hag, but as am willin' to do everything
in my power for the coniederacy, | will go
with you to show you the place"
THAT isright," answered the rebel, ''and
we'll see that you are rewarded for your
zeal"
Il don't want any reward for helping my
countrymen, replied the other 81 am
always ready to help along the cause"
With these words she disappeared into
an inner room, but came forth in few
minutes with grey blanket thrown over
her shoulders.
Al, e ,I,o : oc1-c
said she, with short dry laugh; " don't
you think it becomes mc!'
Aye, aye, my good woman, very much.
But lead on, if you please, for we have no
time to lose"
The hag then closed the door of the house.
Forward march Y she exclaimed, imita-
ting the voice of man with strong lungs.
Forward march Close up! close up y
And she moved along the road at slow
tottering pace natural TO a person of her
age.
The night by this time had become very
dark. The sky was obscured with thick
driving clouds and the wind screamed and
roared among the tall pines that lowered
upon each side of the road. Occasionally
heavy branch wrenched from its native
trunk, would fall into the road with a ter
rife crash, and more than once the rebels
started back and cooked their pieces in the
belief that the din was caused by the dis
charge of some Yankee rife.
"Ha ha ! ha !" laughed the old hag up
on one of these occasions, {" it seems to me
that you are easily startled. Don't you
think your commander might have picked
out a pair of boldcr hearts than yours for
this expedition ?"
YOU'D better keep a silent tongue in
your head, my good woman, until you have
had an opportunity to witness as many
battles as we have answered one of the
men "a good soldier is always on his
guard
Aye, aye y replied the old woman !;
. but he should know how to distinguish
between the crashing of dry branch and
the ring of a rihed musket"
The rebel did not relish the noise made by
the loud, sharp tones of the female guide,
and, in order to put an end to the conver-
sation he controlled himself sufficiently not
to reply to her last remark The party
then continued their way in slence-which
was not broken by either of them until they
he'd gone about three miles, and loud,
clear challenge suddenly startled the rebels,
Halt Who comes there ?"
Friend" answered the old woman, in a
ringing voice friend with prisoners !"
1--WE are betrayed y yelled her compan-
ions, and, even as the words passed their
lips, they were surrounded by a dozen
Federal soldiers, one of whom carried a
lantern.
rs the rays of the light flashed upon the
hag, the rebels saw the grey hair, the blan-
ket, and the female apparel drop to the
ground, revealing the slight but iron-like
frame of a Union soldier in the prime of
life
at is he, by :! !" exclaimed the prison
ers, simultaneously, as their glance wan-
dered to the long double barreled rife,
which he now held in hand it is he the
scout-the Federal Chameleon p
"Aye, aye" answered the latter, as he
leaned upon his weapon, with aquiet smile
Z" You are trapped, sure enough, thanks to
my disguise, which is only one of the many
that carry in my knapsack. Allow me to
express my thanks to you for the informa-
ton you gave me regarding the position OF
your camp and the number of your men.
have already sent message to my colonel
in relation to the matter, and | perceive he