Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-07-05


about it. Still he has been quiet on
the journey, and see by the savage
glance of his eye that he is in earnest.
He has a long knife in his belt; it
may prove useful if we get into a
row, he draws it between his fingers
to feel its edge, grins horribly, and
then says "Me give 'em thisw We
get little closer, and then see a fire
buring about 200 yards from the fort.
There is sleepy looking guard sit
ting behind it. Right he can't see
us through the flames. 1t has got
very dark by this time, and shows
signs of rain, so we wait to see if the
weather is likely to aid US. After
some minutes have passed away down
comes the storm. What noise it
makes /. 1t is hail. The lazy sentry
move inside tent. Now is the time
Over the inside and into the earth
work Robinson, you get among the
tents if you can, and find out what is
in them, and then back to us !" The
negro springs forward and is over a
moment.
hear gurgle, and as I slip down
the other side see the man, with his
wild eye flashing fire, as he is draw
ing his knife out of the body OF the
artilleryman with one hand, while
with the other he grasps him by the
throat. In another moment Scott and
have each gun spiked, and make
for another, when we hear a voice,
"Turn out the guard" and then a
shot comes whizzing over our heads,
and some one comes running towards
US. 'Tis only Tom. " Chuck the
sentry's body over, and they'll think
we have plunged into the river" says
Scott. "No; fling couple of balls
over-they will do quite as well. p
And over they go with splash, and
over the bastion we tumble too, and
along our old route. "Don't run
but on hands and knees, softly. There
goes the guard into the work" Fire
into the water" says a voice; the
fellows can't have got far" And
bang goes whole volley, and an in
stant after the bugles sound and the
camp is astir.
We have got a hundred yards from
them. "Now for it-for your lives,
men, run!' Pop, pop-they have
heard US and are coming in our rear.
But the race is for the swift, and if
so, l will defy any of them to catch
our negro, who runs like race horse.
Crash What is that? Why,
Scott has had a fall; but he is up
again, and all right. " Give them a
taste of lead if they come too close. "
Here's where we left the sentry bound.
What a plague this underbrush is-it
makes such a row as we go through
it! That contounded picket ahead is
sure to hear US. Now he challenges.
No answer. Then he comes down
the bank. The niger" rushes by
him. "Tom," l say, for my active
companion is ahead of me, shoot
him v' The "Reb" does not wait to
be shot, but runs for the bushes, too
and as soon as he thinks he is safe
blazes away with his rife. "TEe
heather has warmed my shoulder,
says Scott, who had a piece Of his
blouse shot away. Never mind, if
he has not killed your answered
But how close the rascals are behind
There is a great strapping fellow
almost up to you" II can't touch
him, my shoulder is so bad" Scott
says. So | turn on Mr.. Confederate
and before he has time to aim, bul
let is in his leg, and he is of no more
use in the chase. A smash in front
What's the matter now? "The mig
gers gone over to our lieutenant,
says Tom. And so he had, for, sit
ting in the same place we had left him
and keeping guard over the canoe
was our commander He gets up now
and we make for the boat. All in
: and off we push. A flash of light
and then roar of musketry, tells uI
that our pursuers know thatwe are off
We give them parting salute by
firing our revolvers, hoping that some
, of the balls will take effect. His SIS
splash--splash! hat gunboat has
: heard the noise. Thank God for the
, rain and darkness! "Bang" goes {
cannon on board her, and the sho
flies away on shore. Capital thC
fash showed us where she was away
on our starboard. "Keep on at tina
game, my boy, and you will light III
, over to our creek" But she does no
fire again, and we hear her paddles
going. They are coming near: sh,
| is bearing right down upon us. "Li'
} to, Tom, and all Of you down, ant
, she will pass u.s." And there sht
goes steaming by, raising little swell
. that nearly upsets our frail bark
, Now for it again Hurrah, there
our side Of the river; and soon W,
| are ashore. 1t takes some time II
J find our horses, but when we do W,
gallop off. They hear us on the boat
, and send few shells across into thu
, timber. Away we ride, and only pull
: up at our advanced picket line. Thel
Lieutenant Wilkins comes up to m,
; and asks me what we have done ant
seen, and what report he shall give
, He thinks | had better go to the gen
eral with him. When we are at head
5 quarters, " Old Bull Dog" who is il
bed, gets up and hears what we hav
to say. Very WE'LL" he says; g
4 to your quarters; you have all don
r your duty.
Two or three days after this | wa