The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-07-05

| he seemed satisfied that | was there
Several attempts to leave the ten
ended in similar failure. Dayhgh
began to seal into the tent, and tn,
night OF suspense must end III somt
decisive effort to secure the boat anC
, cross the Potomac. The soldier
fishermen Were sleeping quite a,
soundiy as at any time before, ant
In another moment | stood before
the door watching the effect of my
movement. There was little stir
and | stood mechanically poking the
emhers of our evening fire, as if look.
ing out TO see the breaking day; but
with my pistol in one hand ready for
service. Returning it 10 my pocket,
muzzle down, | hastened to the bank.
To my great disappointment there
were no oars in the boat. Upon
making search in the willows, / found
4 short one, partially decayed.-
Noiselessly As possible / launched
the frail bark, fearing each sound on
the sand or in the water would bring
my Dutch friend down the bank. In
= few moments which suspense made
limpres5iye!y long, | llOated away into
the stream at this point not over 30
feet i'll width Taking the middle of
the current. ! pulled off my coat and
began to row for life. The tide IA
yored me, aud | was congratulating
myself upon the prospect of an m-
molested voyage, when 4 shout drew
my attention to the vigilant Dutch
man, whose gesticulations could not
be misunderstood. He called londiy
TO his bed fellow: Meyer, Meyer,
the poat ish gOne' the pOat ish gone"
He seized his mYsket and made
for the bank, not more than Ii dozen
feet from me, shouting
Come pack here come pack NIT
that post'
MY only answer vas more Wig
orous use Of the car Placing nav
right hand upon the pistol, and
watching the soldier, propelled tte
boat with nv left
Come pack he continued, follow
ing me along the bank. He then
paused, leveled his musket, and was
about to fire l did not want to kill
"mine host but the law of self de
fense again demanded = sacrifice. -
With quick and sudden aim fired
with q cry of distress he staggered
and fell lifeless beside his musket.--i
His comrade was running down the
hill, when seeing what had happen.
ed, he turned back TO the tent. He
soon returned with 4 double barreled |
shot gun, and stole along cautiously !
through the bushes, until within ~ !
yards of the boat, and then fired
The shot fell around me in the water
Catching glimpse Of my enemy in !
the thicket, ! discharged my revol-
yer. He ran away, evidently unhurt.
The reports had given the alarm, and
several soldiers soon came in sight
An instant later, 4 bullet whlstled 1
over my shoulder | had reached /
the decisive moments oil my last ef-
fort to get out Of Dixie Again
getting sight of the Dutchman in the
bushes, ! once more took deliberate
aim and fired. lie threw up one
arm, gave 4 yell, and fell to the +
ground. In moment he rose again,
.u,i, gIuauing, staggered away
Then two or three shouts saluted me
unceremoniously, striking and splint
ering the side of tire boat. / was
now at the mouth OF the creek, and
rapidly left the shore behind me. A
SC uad of soldiers, by this time, stood
on the brow and 4. the base of the
hill, firing their muskets. The chHS
Of the bullets in the water reminded |
me that my transit 20 loyal soil was
not vet certain. Both hands were
laid to the oar, and, striking the
broad current of the Potomac, which
was here four miles wide, ] rapidly
receded from musket range. Z high
gind swept the waters, and while
bluff, a sudden gust car
ried away my hat and lifed my coat,
wing in the bow of the boat, drop
ping il into the river. But it was no
lime to look backward to those arti-
lies of apparel, floating between me
md my foes, whose bullets still came
near. Their shots con
.inued until they fell far in the wake
1f my boat. The sun had risen above
,he horizon, warm and bright, while,
'or two hours and half, | worked
with a single oar, and, aided by the
irifting tide, approached the Mary
and shore. With All inexpresSible
sense of relief, heard the boats bow
ouch the sand. | was near Chapel
Point, ten miles below the creek on
n hhich | embarked, and so exhausted
hat with difficulty | reached the
,sbk On its green carpet, and an- ,
ier the cooling shade of its trees,
aid down to rest, leaving the boat to
which 1 owed my deliverance, to the
Winds and waves oil the Potomac"