The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-10

CHAPTER xvn-coNTINUED.

CHAPTER XNII-CONTINUED.
"well, my lad, you have led us quite
jaunt this morning. May ask if you have
concluded now 10 surrender"
81 have no such intention, captain, since
cannot conceive for what purpose You de-
sire to take us prisoners; but may I ask
why you are pursuing us ?"
'Now, by the Lord you crow it bravely, my
young springaldl What the devil did you run
for, if you are not conscious of any reason
why we should apprehend you p
''Oh, merely for the sake of adventure"
"Humph that wont go down, my friend"
81 am very sorry for it, captain, for in de-
fault of better one you will have to con-
tent yourself with this"
'.ButI may choose not to be SO contented,
what then ?"
do you say, captain, that you are not
content ?"
eyes, I viii have to take you to head
quarters"
"But what if l do not choose to go?'
"Ah! then it will be my duty to compel
you; lest, were l to let you go, you should
make directly for the camp of the enemy; and
indeed it is no great distance Off
"You are correct, captain; such is my
destination, and l think shall reach there to-
night"
"And you think will let you go after
your avowing as much?"
al think you will, captain. Read that ["
and she handed him the pass gwen her by the
general-in-chief of the Union army, command
ing and enjoining all to respect the bearer,
and to permit his motions unrestricted and un-
questioned freedom.
why, this is the safeguard of the general I
Why didn't you show me this at first ?"
because have just told you that am
going to the camp of the enemy, and
didn't wish it told there that had just held
communication with federal officer; but
you have forced me to it."
And the tone of regret and impotence she
employed convinced the officer that he saw
before him one of those adventurous spirits
whose hair-breadth escapes by flood aud field
form volume in the annals of our civil war;
unsurpassed in deeds of gallantry and daring
by the events of any period in the worlds
history-in other words spy 1t was, there
fore, with mixture of regret and self justi-
fication that he replied:
"I did but my duty, and yet I regret this
coutretenpS as much as you can possibly; but
those men you have with you-who are
they2"
"Both rebels; but necessary to my safety
you must let them pass
"Of course, if you desire it; but you are
too generous, sir, not to pardon the rudeness
to which you have been subjected Ny mis-
take was naturall"
Freely, captain, freely-but about the
manner of my going. 1t will not do for us
to part in apparent amity."
81 see that, and have thought of an expe-
dent. Do you return to your party as if our
conference had been unsatisfactory, and Twill
detain my men long enough to give you time
to get of. Keep the timber between you and
rs, until you are out of sight Bear to the
southwest little. You will strike the out
posts Of the enemy dozen miles hence; and
now, goodbye"
And the captain turned his horses head and
rode back to his followers, letting prize es-
cape him which. had he known it, would have
won him the silver eagles of a colonel
Zera, glad to escape so easily, speedily
joined her friends, and as they rapidly pur