The Portland daily press., 1872-06-01

looked at Totten, and then asked the
guard, in low voice, if we could not have
caDDage-leaf to place on the sprained ankle.
'Cabbage-leafv he replied; where the
h-Ps there any cabbage about hyarp'
hight there, said l, pointing to a corner of
the enclosure, where l had observed few
miserable heads growing, in sort of garden
patch. ra.s-i
"Ohp' answered he, with laugh, elf YOU
tnInk them ere will do you any good, you
kin take 'em, s'pose."
THANK you, sir" said Totem: 'won't YOU
have Some tobacco?'
And the sergeant drew from his pocket a
plug OF the weed, which by good luck he hap
pened to have about him:
The Keb, stepping up, took itreadily; and,
examining quid into his jaw, drew off again.
As Totten wished it, the movement placed
him several feet nearer us, than he had been
before.
II reckon bit O. baccy air better than a
cabbage-,eaf," he remarked with grin.
Not to us now," replied Totten, with a
glance given to me that, had the sentry seen,
and been any thing of a physiognomist,
would have done us damage.
"Rube!' he said, calling out to the other
guard, who was about fifty PAGES off, and
nearer the patch of cultivated ground "pitch
one O. them ERE old heads of green's this way /:
the Yank wants it for his crippled foot"
Reuben propping his long rifle against the
log he was seated on, and slowly rising up,
walked toward the green's
glanced at Totten. He was gathering his
legs under him, and furiously rubbing the
sprained ankle with one hand. Our sentry
had turned halfway round, while speaking to
the other; the butt of his gun rested on his
boot, not more than dozen feet from the
sergeants grasp l was close to Totten, only
little outside, and in full view of the Confed.
l saw that the sergeant was quite ready, and
watching me with eager eyes. ~
The outside guard had reached the cab
bage patch, and was STOPPING to pluck the
''greens" The time for action had at length
arrived; and raised my right hand
With spring of a catamount, Totten
threw himself forward upon the unsuspecting
sentry. As he did so, rushed up the steps.
caught hold of the heavy door, dashed it to,
and drove home the shooting bolt-before
the men inside could stir hand or foot!
There had not been a second to spare. By
the time had got the swinging bar into it's
place, the Rebs had Thrown themselves
against the door, uttering loud curses.
But the bolt was strong one, and resist
ed all their efforts, until had got the bal
safe in its place, and secured it with a pad
lock. This done, sprang out of the porch
again, and ran for the rifle left leaning
| against the log. .-r :
All the while Totten and the sentry were
engaged in deathlike struggle. On frs
finging himself on the latter, Totten had
had caught him round the legs, at the same
time securing his gun, and bringing him t.
the ground. l knew that few men could
equal the sergeant in rough strength; and
satisfied he would soon have the MASTERY
over his opponent, left him to settle tina
matter for himself
| As rushed to get possession of the rifle
its owner, bewildered by the sudden surprise
was now running towards it himself, makins
loud outcry, and still holding the head O
cabbage in his hand. Fortunately was tn,
| swifter, and reached the log first; but. as
stopped to grasp the gun, the Reb threw him
self impetuously upon me. Selling the but
| IN one hand, with the other he struck me
violent blow in the face. But had the bar
rel firmly grasped; and, exerting all m,
strength, succeeded in becoming master O
the weapon, drawing the man down upon hi
knees: Before he could recover himself,
dealt him crushing blow with the butt, tina
felled him fiat upon the earth.
10 rush to the stable, and set free ou
comrades, Hill and Carey, was but the worI
of few seconds. Then we all ran to wher
the sergeant and the big sentry were still en-
| gagged in their deadly wrestle.
Totten had his antagonist by the throat
and would, no doubt, have strangled him, bu
that the Confed was very powerful man
and had got hold of the sergeant's wrist.
Our arrival put an end to the struggle: a.
the sentry, seeing himself outnumbered, witt
rifle held close to his head cried out eOuar
terp' - N-
While all this was taking place, the part,
in the storeroom were making furious effort
to burst open the door. But as the oak wa
sound, and the bolts strong, we saw it woult
take them some time to make their wa,
out r a
Before they did this we were all fou
mounted, and galloping gayly away.
We knew we had little to fear from pursui
by those left at the Lighthouse. On the tiret
horses that remained to them, and the star
we had obtained, there would be no chanc,
for the Confeds to overtake us.
Fortune proved friendly to us. Not a sou
did we encounter, as we dashed along at ;
breakneck pace, until we fell in with a bod,
OF our own cavalry, several miles beyont
where we had been captured in the morning
which at length put an end to our apprehen
sions. = FIJI. .-r. =
had some explanations to make, after re
Joining my regiment, as to how got the yer,
handsome black eye had brought from thu
other side of the Shenandoah.