Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-09-24


panic. Ny knees knocked together and
I could hardly make my trembling
limbs support me as tottered along in
the wake of Mrs. Willis, who, in spite
Of her little girl clinging to her, made
excellent time.
Mr.. Gibbs stood in the doorway OF his
tent leaning on his crutch, and even IN
the dim twilight could see how pale
his swarlhy face looked. His sick vile
had crept out of her bed and stood lock-
ing over his shoulder, quite still, with
the calmncss Of desperation. Even in
the midst of my panic l could but feel
sorry for Mr. Gibbs. as he stood there,
crippled and helpless, the center of a
group Of trembling, terrified women.
oh! Brother john Mrs. Willis
gasped, have the raiders Gomez
Looking at the waving hillside aud
hearing now the loud talking of men,
Mr.. Gibbs nodded his head without ut
tcring a word. Brother john said
the irrepressible Mrs. Willis. the DEM
liohn hadn't Charlotte better smash
the demijohn p
Yes he said, harshly, and lose no
time about it, Here all the other fc
males of the party, except myself, ran
to fetch that pernicious jug from Its hid
ing place IN the back Of the tent. 1 had
entirely forgotten the deinijohn. and
now that 1t was brought to my mind,
heartily wished il to Kams ;hatka. To
tell the truth, I did not fancy going of
all alone IN the dusk with that danger
Gus luggage. But being celebrated
veteran, l was ashamed to object.
Here! hereu said Mrs. Willis,
lhrusting the dangerous burden into my
hands. The raiders are coming. Run .
Run What makes you 20 so slow p
Now, five gallon demjohn of whis-
ky is mighty heavy, and my trembling
limbs could with difficulty support my
own weight, and the energetic shove she
gave me nearly upset me, as l tottered
uugllingly away with my odious load.
I coal hu. think what fool l was to
run so far and then at last be caught like
a rabbit in the woods, aud | heartily
wished myself in Macon. While such
unpleasant reflections fitted through
my mind staggered along with the
hated demljohn toward the swamp. On
its edge l stopped, for | was afraid to
90 any further, and getting behind a
large pine tree threw my burden down.
confden tly expecting it to smash. But
It did nothing of the sort, but lazily roll
ed about on its fat side. Then it burst
upon me that there was a vast differ
ence between the sot swamp soil OF
middle Georgia and the rocky ground OF
The mountains where l had destroyed
the demiiohns ofmy childhood. | loo%
ed wildly about for friendly stone, for
getting that that was thing unknown
in this region. Then l looked Tor pine
knot, but strange to say, not one could
| see in the gathering gloom. In my
impotent wrath 1 kicked the demljohn {;
but. alas my shoes were Confederate
and thin and soft. All the while | could
hear talking going on at the tent and dd
not know at what moment some inves-
tigatng raider might come IN pursuit oi
me. In despair pulled out the stop
per and tried to turn out some whisky
Blu. the exasperating demijohn calmly
went 'guqgle, guggle,' and discharged
lts contents with a delberatlon that
lrenzied me. Worse still! l heard foot
steps approaching. Great heayens! l
thought. they are following me and il
they find this whisky we are lost. With
the courage Of desperation l stepped
quickly IN froht of the pine tree, behind
which had the dreadful jug aud faced
about, standing with hands mechanic
ally clinched, ready to meet the intru-
der. The next instant, IN the dim twl-
light, recognized Mrs. Willis with a
hatchet in her hand. Snatching it from
her darted back and shivered the glass
demiiohn at blow. The whisky flew
in the air and bathed US in very odor-
ferrous shower.
How did you get away from the raid
ers p l asked.
There is but one.'
One! Why, where is all that cayal-
ry saw riding down the hillside p
Those were our horses pickcted
there, which took fright and tried to
stampede
After all the much-dreaded raider had
come as a messenger Of peace. 1t seems
that the head OF Gen. Wilson's raidiDg
column had reached Macon, when, ru-
mors of Gen. Lees surrender having
arrived. the authorities had effected an
armlstice for ten days in which to learn
the truth. On hearing OF the armlstice
the colonel commanding the rear guard
sent squads Of men IN every direction
along his route 10 tell the inhabitants
out hiding to 90 home. Engaged in
that errand he stumbled upon our camp.
How do l know you are telling me
the truth p asked Mr.. Gibbs.
Il am here alone and unarmed,' said
the man; you might kill me if you
chose
That was so for one of the two ne
gro mon suggested that we should tie
the raider to a tree in the swamp and
leave him there, and was surprised at
ouf declining. The news ofan armlstice
conveyed no idea to his mind.
Tho Fnderal solder snenL the night at