The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-07-26

"Oh, in that case,' said the rebel, "l
! do not see any reason why L should not
satisfy you. Our camps, then, are five
miles from here, near the cross roads, and
our number may be about five thousand"
"That will do" cried the old woman,
with grin of satisfaction-"yes that will
do And now you are sure that the man
who came here to buy his supper is the
one you are after Z"
owe are sure of it, for although we
| have never seen the mans face, we'd know
him by the double barrelled rife, as no
| body else in the Yankee army carries a
weapon of that kind
| "Ay, ay; it's the right one, then, said
the hag. "After he had finished and paid
me- for his meal, he says to me :-'Frlend,
I should Ike to put up here for the night
| if YOU have no objections But as l cid
not like the idea of accommodating a
| Yankee any more than l can help, l said
| there was no room for him, as | expected
visitors before many hours. well, then,
says he, cant you tell me of place where
| can pass the night little comfortably
Ye see,' he added looking towards his
double -barrelled rifle, Il don't like to camp
out as it looks like rain, and this piece
might get hurt by it, I know of no
place, answered, short of four miles from
enough, think, to keep off the rain
| -Four miles is pretty long distance, said
| he, 'and "a have been tramping about
considerable to day, don't feel much like
carrying this heavy load SO far pointing
to his knapsack as he spoke, will you be
kind enough to let it remain till morning"
Well, yes, said /, hesitating little, and
throwing significant glance at the well
| filled pocket-book in his hand He un-
| derstood the look and gave me a green
| back dollar. All right, said [, and he
then departed, saying he would call for
| his luggage in the morning, after he
| should wake from his sleep In the barn."
CHOW, then, which will you do," con-
tiuued the woman, ago after him at once
| or wait in ambush for him till morning 2"
The two soldiers drew back few PAGES
and held short consultation, after which |
they advanced to the side Of the woman. |
ave will go now," said the one who
had spoken first; 'that is if you can
describe to US the exact position of the |
barn"
"I don't think I could describe it SO
you ceuld find it in the dark" replied the |
hag, "5ut as | am willing to do everything |
in my power for the Confederacy, [ will |
90 with you and show you the place"
"That's right" answered the REBEL.
"and we will see that you are rewarded
for your zeal"
II don't want any reward for helping.
my countrymen," she replied. "I'm al |
ways ready to help along the cause"
With these words she disappeared into
another room, but came forth in a few |
minutes with gray blanket thrown over
her shoulders.
''I took this out Of the Yank's haver-
sack" said she, with short, dry laugh A.;
| don't you think it becomes me p
"Aye, aye, my good woman, very much
but lead Us on, If you please, for We hare
Go time to lose"
Forward, march p she exclaimed,
initiating the voice of a man with strong
lungs. Forward, march! Close up
close upw And she moved along the |
road at the tottering pace so natural to |
person of her years.
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 a branch wrenched from It's
native trunk, would fall into the road with
a terrible crash, and more than once the
rebels started back and cooked their pieces
in the belief that the din was caused by
the discharge of some Yankee rife.
CHA! ha! hap laughed the cd nag
on one of these occasions "it seems to
mo that you are very easily startled
Don't y0h think your commander might
have placed pair of bolder hearts than
yours on this expedition p
"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!' replied the old woman,
"but he should know how to distinguish
between the cracking of branch and the
ring of a rifed musket."
The rebel did no. relish the noise made
by the loud, shrill tones of the female
guide, and in order to put an end to it he
controlled himself sufficiently not to reply
10 her last remark. The party then con-
tinned on their way in silonce-which
was not broken by either Of them until
they had gone about three miles, and
loud, clear challenge suddenly startled
the rebels.
"Halt Who comes there %
"FrienIa w answered the old woman, in
a ringing voice ''friend, with prisoners.
oWe are BETRAYED ~ yelled her conf !