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

e er, put my hand on my pocket, an
= stood in thinking posture. / sa,
d that l had an Irishman to deal with
and not remarkably bright speci
: men of his race.
With the air Of one interested
i asked:
What is this timber for?'
, Its fur the batthery down there
in course
This answer settled the question o
the proximity of the Potomac, an(
also apprised me that fortiiieation.
and plenty of Rebels were not far oil
walked along a stick Of timber
measuring it by PAGES, and then said
Tell these men they are getting
this timber four feel TO short, viii
-iyou:'
Yes, sur, 1 will, sure. Its only
hsuiin, i AN neself.'
WELL l replied, leaving him, tell
them TO cut it four feet longer, MilI
Iyoui Tell them l say so.'
Il will sur
! Into the woods again and, making
as good time as possible, walked
on two hours longer. Hunger began
to gnaw, and create that desperation
which disregards the cooler prudence
of full stomach. Striking small
creek or bayou, running into the
Potomac, resolved 10 follow it till
it decided my fortunes for the night.
No sign OF anything in reach 10 APP
pease hunger appeared, nor OF q boat
i i'll which to get across the river
The very first sight OF human exis-
ltence was in form to excite fear
white tent, snugly pitched on the
sloping point Of hill, by the water
side, and surrounded with bushes.
I paused to watch for further init
nations Of what wss there.
At length q soldier came up the
bank with fish, and entered the tent
Soon after, with another man, he re-
appeared outside, snd they sat down,
lighted their pipes and chatted. after
the fashion OF good-natured Dutch
men. The impcrious demands of
hunger urged me to join them, and,
advancing. | aecosted them. 1t turn
ed out that they belonged to bat
terry on the hill above, and had
moved to the bank TO catch fish for
the officers. L told them / lived up
the creek, and had come down 10 see
how things were getting on; then in
'quired:
Have you got anything to eat in
the tent"
1--WE got not much TO eat"
Boys, I am very hungry. j hain'tI
had anything to eat since came
from home, and Ill pay you for
something
Well, dat ish titierent matter. If
you pays, dat ish tiiferent matter
Can't you cook some ash:'
oh, ersh, l s'pose We get you
some fish
In a few minutes they set before
me a supper simply of fish, cooked
in their primitive style, and vet no!
luxury was ever 50 grateful to the
taste. After it was finished, I asked
for q pipe, and began to puff away,
entirely at home; but all the while
revolving in my mind the chances,
and cxpedients for 4 final parting
with my Dutch friends. Finally my
eye fell upon q small boat lying in
the bushes below; and the conviction
followed the discovery, that it was
my only hope Of crossing the Poto-
mac. Learning that the fisherman
owned it, / said to them:
Il want to buy that boat. What
will You take for it 2
Il no sell dat poat,' said one.
I'll give you $50 for it in gold
its worth more as that TO US
The Yankees ish breaking up all
poats ON the Potomac !
There was an end to the prospect
of a purchase; and new plan must
be devised. The sun sank behind
the trees and in the pleasant shade
We smoked and talked away the
hours. / found, in the course OF /
conversation, that the battery wss
not over 200 yards from us, and the
Potomac o few rods below.
The evening advanced, and ! beg /
ged the privilege of sleeping in the
tent, as / Was TOO tired to think Of
returning home before morning
Permission WAS reluctantly granted,
and spreading their blanket, they
turned in, while continued with 4
ont, smoking, till the moon rose
had practical business on hand which
excluded contemplation of the 70 I
mantle scene-tbe silver light tip
ping, and then flooding the bills, and
creeping down to the quiet spot of
anxious wakefulness. For the illu-
mination was to aid me in my design
to escape. j could now watch the
of my companions in the
tent, sufficiently to see when they
we're apparently asleep, depending I.
On the ear for the further evidenced,
Of the desirable feat .- st |,
When all was still, indicating pro-
found slumber, suddenly change Of,
position, a grunt, and look outside
would dispel the illusion. II
Toward midnight heard a shout:
'Hellow, there. you come to ped
20 might? ..
yes, / am coming in
Soon after entering the tent, j
found that room had been left he
tween the men and the effort to get
On an outer edge Of the blanket was ,
fruitless. - s..--
A suspicion had evidently crossed
the mind OF the one who had spoken
to me, respecting the stranger, and
there was design to guard against
any unpleasant results from the visit.
The days fatigue made my own
inclination to sleep almost irresisti- !,
Bile; but I watched anxiously for the
moment to leave the bed ,
Repeated trials found /,
the distrustful soldier sufficiently
wakeful to look after bis guset. Over /
come by the slumberous influence of
fatigue, my comfortable quarters, |,
and the 'stilly night / sank into q
restless repose. Scarcely an hour |,
had passed when l suddenly awoke,
starting with alarm lest the opportu-
nifty to escape was lost. On the con-
.rary, / found my companions were ,
thoroughly asleep, their loud breath
ing the only sign of life. carefully 4
craHled from between them till half,