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


the risk for the promised reward?"
While reading the letter, had
fully made up my mind as to my
course in the matter. So, whom the
captain had ceased speaking, l said;
81 will take the risk, if permitted
to keep my own counsel, aud allowed
to depart from the vessel without the
knowledge Of any person except
yourself"
Tho captain tried to dissuade me
from my purpose, but without sue
cess; as rising from my scat, said,
81 know my duty too we'll. Cant.
NJ. You cannot leave the yes-
sci; but |, as your chief officer. am
expected to head all expedition.
leaving the vessel 1t is my duty,
and accept it,
And telling him that | would be
ready TO start in half an hour, l pro.
ceodcd to my room to prepare for my
mission. l knew that my chances OF
success were greater than those of
either Of my fellow officers. Natu-
rally quick at picking up the idioms
aud accent of u language, | felt con-
iident that, disguised as a fisherman,
l could undergo pretty close scru-
tiny, if necessary, without fear of dc.
lection. An old suit Of gray hunt.
ing clothes, which luckily remained
iu my trunk, furnished my disguise.
And in less time than | had named,
l was again in the cabin. The cap.
tain started up when presented my
self, demanding by what right was
there and it was only when | spoke
in my natural voice that he recog.
nizod me. A large "dugout" was
floating astern Of US, hold only by IA
small cord. 1t was fitted with a
sail, and would, if rightly managed,
with u fair wind, outsail a steamer.
Into this l got, the captain clasping
my hand and bidding me God speed,
us | swung myself over the tafFrail,-
The sea breeze had increased consid.
erably during the last hour, so step.
ping the light mast and setting the
"leg.o -mutton" sail, l soon lost
sight of lay vessel in the darkness
Taking the stars for guide,
steered in the direction of Roanoke
Island. The first gray streaks Of
morning found me opposite Chici-
mocomico, near where the steamer
Fanny was aiterward captured by
the rebels. Sweeping tho shore with
a powerful pair Of lorgnettes, aud
seeing no signs of life, headed my
boat toward a large clump of bushes
about two miles oil, reaching which
| drew up the boat and disposed my
self for the day, having determined
to proceed only during the night
1t is unnecessary for me to detail
the minor incidents Of my trip. Suf.
fee it to say, that | visited Roanoke
Island, Elizabeth City and Washing.
ton without exciting any suspicion.
l had, for a special reason, made
Newburg the last place to be visited.
My reason for SO doing was, that
proposed to find out all l could about
Florence Rodman, and if she still en-
tortained the same feeling for Harry
that she once professed, and was in
any immediate danger, to offer her
any assistance in my power. A pre-
sentiment had haunted me for more
than a week, that my friend Harry
was in great personal danger, aud
whenever | closed my cyelids,
seemed to see his large blue eyes
fixed upon me with an imploring look
that said as plainly as words-"Hclp
me !" So strong had this impression
become, that on reaching the mouth
of the Neuse river, it was with diff
Guilty could curb my impatience
long enough to con6seate boat load
of fish from some Of the nets already
set in the river. Having secured
enough to suit my purpose, l pushed
ON boldly up the river, reaching the
city jus, as the morning sun began
to show above the tree tops. Run
ming my boat up to the bank in front
of the building afterwards used as
naval hospital by our gunboats,
soon had crowd of negroes about
me, ehafFering aud bargaining for my
fish. l had sold nearly all my small.
er fish, and was about to take bas-
ket Of the large ones, and go up in
to the streets with the apparent pur.
pose of disposing Of them, but in re-
ality to see and hear all / could,
when was addressed by portly ne.
gro, whose glossy black skin and ex.
tensive white apron, proclaimed him
to be a cook for some rich citizen,
with"Hab you done sole all dem iisl
dar ?" l answered him in the mega
tive. "Den spects Use take 'em all
Dis pussen done got to cook right
smart OBJ fish for dinner" Out Of
curiosity inquired if his master wa:
to have a party.
] could have laughed heartily al
the important airs he put on, as he
: informed me that his "youug Misses
/ Flo'enee' was to be married, and iha
, "Massa Rodman he's devited all d,
| genp'lum an ladies to come 10 d,
weddin'." By skillful questioning
!, learned that Harry was prisoner il
, the city; that Florence had been re.
ported sick and unable to leave tn,
house, but she was TO be married tha
night; and that Harry was to be sho
as a spy, on the morrow,
After learning all l could from th,
negro, | let him have the fish and h,
) departed Keeping him in sight,
discovered where Judge Rodman liv
, ed. My next step was to discove
where Harry was confined. sool
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