The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1868-11-26

lVNVu' Wuu Wlght assist We III getting
word to Harry.
1t was dinner time before an on
portuuity presented of entering the
Rodmau mansion. Then, while The
family aud guests were at the table |
slipped in and huridly sought safe
place of couccalmeut. Opening u
door off the main hall OF the second
story, found myself in che presence
OF a young lady, whose eyes were
red with weeping. She started up at
my sudden entrance, and was about
to scream. Speaking quickly, ] ask.
ed her il her uame was Florence Rod.
man. With wondering look, she
answered "Ios." | thou stated the
object of my visit, aud asked if she
was willing aud able to assist me, |
read my answer in the bcaming face,
ere the question was fairly put
Hastily iuquiriug what prepara-
tons | had made, she told mo that
she had, since the Imprisonment Of
Harry, sent him u basket of provis-
ions by the hands Of iavorte slave,
and she could send note in the
same way. Upon hearing this, I de.
tcrmiucd to play the negro part, "for
one night only being convinced that
by this means only could l effect the
deliverance Of my friend. Stepping to
tho fireplace, | soon darkenod my
face aud hands with SCOT, aud taking
the basket which Florence had pre-
pared, | watched my opportunity aud
gained the street without being seen.
Fortunately for my disguise, it was
;he dinner hour, aud the streets were
nearly deserted. With bold front,
but quaking heart, | marched up to
the sentinel and presented the pass
with which Florence had provided
me. Without looking at me he
opened the door and muttered Few
words aud told mo to enter. Ny
hcart gave a quick, glad bound, as a
hasty glance assured me that only
one man was on duty in the hall. He
motioned me to follow him, as he led
the way toward the furthere end, where,
unlocking one of the cells he said,
"You'un, yerc's some meat for yer"
Before leaving my boat, | had made q
rude slung-shot out of of some net
twno and a round stone. With this
l struck the turnkey a terrible blow
on tho head as he ceased speaking.
aud he sank to the floor without n
groan, Snatching the bunch of keys
from his hand, il took but moment
to release Harry's feet from the heavy
shackles which confined him. Then
grasping his hand, | almost dragged
him into the hall, where, after max
ing myself known to him, | gave di.
rections how to proceed to the boat,
and putting one Of my revolyers in
his hand, we started for the door.
So far, everything had succeeded
better than | had deemed possible.
The only hindrance to our perfect
freedom, was the single sentinel out
side. How to dispose of him, with
out creating an alarm, was what stag.
gored us. After q whispered consul.
tation, it was determined to endeavor
to persuade him to enter tho prison,
on some pretext, and then settling
him with the Slung.shot. Opening
the door n little way, | cried "Comc
iu yore quick, the cussed Yankee is
loose |" The man, completely de-
ceiyed by my imitation Of his com.
rade's voice, sprang into the hall
without hesitation. Harry dealt him
a blow on the temple that would have
killed m OK. Pushing the senseless
body into one corner, we STEPPED into
the street and started toward the land
ing. We had nearly reached it, and
were congratulating ourselves upon
the ease with which we had surmount-
ed our difficulties, VIXEN, on turning
the last corner, We run into a squad
of soldiers, who were coming from
the opposite direction. The corporal
in charge of the squad Immediately
recognized Harry, aud with an oath,
called upon him to hal and surrender
A blow was his answer, as VIC both
sprang toward the boat. A volley of
bullets went whizing past us, and the
shouts Of the soldiers as they started
in pursuit, added wings to our feet
The surprise and headlong speed with
which we approached the shore, had
prevented our noticing that the boat
was occupied, until we were within
ten yards oft. An exclamation from
Harry called my attention to the fact
Sitting near the bow, aud holding the
boat all ready for showing out into
the stream, was Florence Rodman.
Springiug aboard, and hauling aft
the sheet, the broad sail filled with
loud flap, sending us bounding over
the waters with the speed Of race
horse.
The disappointed soldiers, seeing
US thus gliding from their grasp, has
tily reloaded their guns, and were
about to fire on us again, with a SUR
er aim, when Florence springing to
her feet, stood in such position that
it would have been impossible to hit
either Harry or myself without hit
ting her also. Judge Rodman's
daughter was we'll known to the SOL
diers stationed at Newbern, she hav-
ing often visited the camps in COM
pany with her father aud her many
! acts Of Kindness IN thosn sick in hosni-
tails, had, Notwithstanding her known
Union proclivities, won their love aud
gratitude. And on beholding her
thus standing as living buckler be-
tween them and their enemies, they
dropped the muzzles oftheir guns, un-
willing to risk a shot that might in :
jure Que whom they all loved, I'm
needing our remoEstrances the brave
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