The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-26

selves ut night, and must have suffered
greatly from the cold dampness which after
sunset pervadcs the air. Nature herself
seemed to conspire with the evil tate which had
led them astray and after midnight pouring rain
set In which continued until the dawn. They hal
eaten early breakfast and had provided themselves
with the mercst pit,ance Of food. The first day had
been extremely dark and misty Tho sun had not been
visible after o'clock Night had early and
its darkness like that the iarthest cha mber OF
cave, OF the black dungeons OF old Fort San
Marco Had they wandered very long and made
desperate efforts 10 find their way they had probably
exhausted their strength Their meagre lunch was
likely TO be eaten at noon, and ther ammu milton hal
been spent in firing signals, they could obtain any
game Possibly before they could aud deer
coon they would be too weak to use their guns.
Toiling through tho morasses Is work that requires
plentiful nourishment We knew that II they
able they would have returned by the morning.
ngcr ng impression that our alarm futile took its
fight something very like despair remained in its
stead
WHAT DONE?
the appalling question. None of the negroes Of
our party had remained in tho camp / alone pro.
ectcd the two ladies who there. Some one must
hasten to the house OF the "crackcr" and
list all the help that could DO found in immediate
search. The day was Sunday. Teams were expected
TO arrive from Monticello in the evening haul out
OF the swamp the next morning ! hurriedly formed
the plan OF sending the ladies' out by them, while in
the meantime party Of "crackers" should begin tho
search. After getting out Of the wilderness proposed
mounting swift horse and galloplng to the railroad,
where could telegraph to planter who is the
Of pack OF sleuthhounds, to bring them TO aid
Some of the garments OF tho negroes were in the
camp From them the dogs could obtain the scent.
Another question arose. Who 60 for succor9
There only team at tho camp, team
Tho wagon which It usually pulled rickeiy lair
and could carry very little weight In this time OF
ribulation "Aunt' Hannah tried to perform the part
of and succeeded in yokng the oxen; but too
la'e discovered that they coupled wrongly
Buck" aud "Bright" had taken the othor's po.
sition. A wild cnsued when an attempt was
made to drive them "Aunt' Hannah excited tho
cattle by shrilly hallooing at them that they became
utterly unmanagcabe and started at run through the
timber Before they had gone ten foct they smashed
the wagon against stump, and halted thus by
passive coercion. They then seemed to think their
mission ended and thereafter were quite tractablc
DILEMMA.
Our misery was deepened. An hour had boon wasted
In wrestling with the oxen, and the only vehicle pos
sessed had been ruined The catastrophe would have
been udcrous under less depressing but
It seemed but another link the cham OF III luck that
had manacled u.s. We cast down, but not do.
feated. As both the ladies' maid servants could
longer be taken from camp to the nearest hut OF
"cracker," II became u serious dilemma as to who
should carry the message of distress There two
OWLS II myself went they remained without pro-
lection in the heart OF the wilderness. If sent
| "Aunt" Hannah there danger of her losing her
way of her becoming frightened at the solitude
| turning back.
TRAMP FOR RELIEF
Tho lesser evil apparently, to so myself, and
and water to "Ole Man Eph Williams" Ono of the
ladies insisted upon accompanying me; the other would
have done but that her husband the leader Of
lost party. She dreaded lest he should be brought
into camp Ill or wounded and needing hor nursing
Her heroic fortitude did not permit her to indulge in
fear for her own sake. took gun and ammunition,
and my companion lunch, a flask of whskey and
pocket revolver. Can you imagine any but an Amer
lean lady showing such pluck in the time of need?
Remember, we obliged wade one-half
OF tho way, in momentary. peril from the
most poisonous snakes, through slush and water
somctimes two feet deep. Our Spirits well
as our bodies, heavily weighted.
struck steady march Ny companion followed
closely and un1inchingy. Sometimes would look
back anxousy see II she aItering with fatigue
but never an old soldier showed more resolution. This
trampng through wilderness, with princess faith
fully following, struck as both sad and ridiculous
burlesquc In the the of .'Slecpng
Beauty" l must confess, however, that tho long
miles passed moro lightly than had l been
alone fair and always cheerful face to turn to
a bright relief from the lugubrous look OF the
Expresses tina. frowned upon way Neither of our
figures particularly poetic, in dapdated camp
garb. and surveyed each other, equally be-
smcared with mud aud soaked with water tho
hardship OF the situation and the solcmnity OF
errand could prevent occasional hearty fit OF
laughter.
SAIL! SAIL
In a varying mood. from gloom to mcrrimcnt and
from laughtcr1o dependency, walked at truly
remarkable gait estimated the passage of the
second milo at twenty minutos--and that through
slough, lens and After going three miles
we sat down on fallen log and little lunch but
without appetite, although we discussed 1t with copious
allusion Robinson Crusoe for a The whskey
warmed through and through. and seemed to chase
.the fatigue from limbs. So podded on.
adopted somewhat slower pace, and tho next three
miles consumed an hour aud halt Glad
sight Far in the distance deserted
team Of mules, ono OF which
white Our joy equal TO that of the
sailor when he sail nearing his dcs-
ert isle Behind tho mules rumbled a wagon. We
hailed the driver with cries and gestures, and he
drew closer no surveyed with kind of stupid
prise, # he suspected himself Of dreaming. Hc was
in doubt whether to take fright. recognized his
cquipage the which to carry US out Of
the Wilderness. 1t had como more promptly than
had hoped. We quickly climbed into it and as quickly
explained plight to the good natured negro.
asked him to GO back to Mr. Williams house foot
bring men. horses and dogs tho camp as
possible. He cbeerfuly obeyed l took the reins,
and we rode back the way had come, glad enough
to relieved Of the last two miles OF pedestrian
task.
HELP FOR THE
Wc arrived in camp half expectant OF seeing the
lost there, but were disappointed Those we had left
behind surprised at return but less joyful
that help certain TO soon. Two hours after
ward a shout WIS henrd and We saw annrnnchlna a