The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-06-07

watch my foes, unseen by them; While my
revolver lay before me- If discovered [ re-
solved to shoot the successful man. run for
deastife towards the woods. Several times
the cavalry rode around the stack then
one of che number dismounting, began
sword examination of my lodgings. |
could hear the thrust of the blade into the
nay, until it grazed my coat, and [ grasped
my six-shooter to spring but he passed on
saying:
He amt in there, boys
At two O'Clock in the afternoon. when
emerging from clump of bushes, [ came
in full view Of man hauling timber, l
could not retreat, and, changing the coat
hanging on one arm to the other, | put my
hand on my pocket, and stood in thinking
posture. saw that l had an Irishman to
deal with, and not remarkable bright
specimen of his race.
With the air of one interested, [ asked
What is that timber for?'
It's fur the batthery down here, in
course.
This answer settled the question of the
proximity Of the Potomac, and also apprised
me that Notifications and plenty of rebels
were not far off. [ walked along stick
of timber, measuring it by PAGES, and then
said
Tell these men they are getting this tim
Der four feet too short, will you?'
Yes, sur, | will, sur. It's only haulin'
Well, | replied, leaving him, tell them
to cut it four feet longer, will you?' Tell
them | say So
| will, sur
That night Baker came to small creek
running into the Potomac, and witbin a
hundred yards Of rebel battery encoun-
tered two German rebel soldiers fishing in
the stream. He told them that he lived up
the creek and had come down to see how
things were getting on They gave him
the night But Baker had caught sight of
their boat, and determining that here was
his best chance of escape to the American
lines north of the Potomac, he offered to
buy it of them. This awakened their sus-
picions, and accordingly in arranging their
bed they placed our hero between them,
and took every precaution to prevent his
escape.
4 carefully crawled from between them,
till half of my body was out of the tent.
The suspicious man, with a sound of unrest,
turned over. | remained perfectly still till
arm to see if all was right in the middle. [
drew back to my old place, and he laid his
hand upon me several times before he SEEM
ed satisfied that was there Several at
tempts to leave the tent ended in similar
failure. Daylight began to steal into the
tent, and the night of suspense must end
in some decisive effort to secure the boat
and cross the Potomac. The soldier fisher
men were sleeping quite as soundly as at
any time before. and in another moment [
stood before the door watching the effect of
my movement There was little stir, and
[ stood mechanically poking the embers of
our evening fire, as if looking out to see
the breaking day; but with my pistol in one
hand ready for service. Returning it to
my pocket, muzzle down, | FASTENED to the
bank To my great disappointment there
were no oars in the boat. Upon making a
search among the willows, found a short
one, partially decayed Noiselessly as pos
sible | launched the frail bark, fearing that
each sound on the sand or in the water
would bring my two Dutch friends down the
bank. In few moments. which suspense
made impressively long, foated out into
the stream, at this point not over thirty feet
in width. Taking the middle of the cur
rent, | pulled off my coat and began to row
for life. The tide favored me, and | was
congratulating myself upon the prospect of
an unmolested voyage when q shout drew
my attention to the vigilant Dutchman,
whose gesticulations could not be under
stood. He called loudly to his bedfellow /:
Meyer! Meyerl the poat ish gone the
poat ish gone
He seized his musket and made for the
bank, not more than dozen feet from me,
shouting:
Come pack here Come pack NIT that
My only answer was more vigorous use
of the oar. Placing my right hand upon
my pistol and watching the soldier, | pro-
PEELED the boat with my left.
Come pack ! he continued, following me
along the bank. He then paused, levelled
his musket and was about to fire. | did not
want to kill mine host, but the law Of self
defence again demanded sacrifice. With
sudden aim, fired-with a cry of distress
he staggered and fell lifeless beside bis mus
ket. His comrade was running down the
bill, when seeing what had happened he
turned back to the tent. He soon returned
with double barrelled shot gun, and stole
cautiously along through the bushes, until
within about forty yards of the boat, and
then fired. The shot fell around me il,
the water. Catching glimpse of my en-
envy in the thicket, | discharged my re-
volver. He ran away evidently unhurt
The reports had given the alarm, and sew
eral soldiers soon came in sight. An in
slant later bullet whistled over my head.
[ had reached the decisive moment of my
last movement to get ont of Dixie. Again
getting sight of the Dutchman in the bushes
[ once more took deliberate aim and fred.
He threw up one arm, gave a yell, and fell
to the ground. La moment he rose again,
and groaning, staggered away. Then two
or three shots saluted me unceremoniously,
striking and splintering the side Of the
boat. L was now at the mouth of the creek,
and rapidly left the shore behind me. A
squad of soldiers by this time stood on the
brow of the hill, firing their muskets. The
chug of the bullets in file water remined
me that my transit to loyal soil was not yet
certain. Both hands were laid to the oar,
and striking the broad current of the Poto-
mac, which was here four miles broad, ]
| rapidly reccded from musket range. A
high wind swept the waters, and while
rounding a bluff q sudden gust carried ava q