Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-02-13


/ As night shut down the youns
men crept from their place of
consealment considerably invig
GRATED by a days rest after th'
previous nights adventures
Cannon still thundered in cele
bration of the anniversary of thu
Declaration of Independence
but this did not arrest their at.
tention. All their thoughts al
well as their footsteps were turn.
ed homeward. Their plans by
day and the execution of these
by night wholly monopolized
their mental and physical powers
Indeed, ''home" was the only
word that seemed to inspire them
with a resolution. sufficient tc
surmount the many barriers that
Iimpeded their progress. After a
fatiguing nights journey through
"a dense growth of bushes and
saw-briars, day again drove them
to hiding place; penetrating a
thicket a pleasant retreat. was
found, both from the sun and
every thing human. About 3 o.
clock in the afternoon, when all
had been refreshed by sleep, Buff
falo whispered "Boys, let's get
through the bushes before dark,
for then it will be impossible.
There will be no danger. l as
sure you there is no one to inter-
rupt US about here" Nuby said
"Twont do for we will be caught,
sure" However, the opposition
of Nuby was soon overcome and
at 4 o'clock they were marching
toward Dixie. They found it
much easier to make their way,
but were forced to use their
hatchet several times to effect a
passage through the wilderness.
They were getting along admi-
rably, so well that they began
to congratulate themselves for
having started before nightfall,
when all at once they found them
selves in front Cf a dwelling.
"Stop! stop! boys, stop! yonder's
a mani" whispered Nuby, with
white and trembling lips, at the
same time falling to the earth.
"Get up from there, Nuby, the
man s looking at you," said Jes-
Sc, sternly, as they walked on in
a careless manner. Nuby could
not bear to see his comrades
leave him, man or no man. So
he was soon seen bringing up
the rear at a speed calculated to
arouse the suspicious of the man,
who beheld the scene from his
front-door-yard with as much as
tonishment as a country boy
would exhibit at a passing me-
nagerie. Tha young men pass
ed slowly across the opening and
again entered the bushes. Jesse
nd himself to note the result; he
saw the man who had watched
-hem 50 closely run to an out
house, get a bride and start hur-
-iedly toward the barn. This
vas sufficient evidence that there
vas danger and the young men
struck out at full speed, travelling
1t right-angles with the main di-
-ection; mile or more was gain
ID in a few minutes. Nuby al
ways led the way when danger
vas in the rear, but when in front
lie was found behind. If the
noon shone on the trunk of a
rec or some other object Nuby |
would jump back, throw up his
lands and whisper, "Yonder 8
nan, stopl stop! stopp' These
words were repeated so often
hat they fell on the ears of his
companions as the product of an
imagination frantic with fear. !
Here is the place for us to hide
md repulse an attack, too" said
lin, as he looked over between
he trunks of two large trees that
lad been prostrated by a storm.
IN a moment it was converted in
o a fort with a garrison of four
nen armed with two revolvers,
waiting an attack Of their pur-
'uers. Eagerly they watched on
Every side until night again re-
ieved them. Fully resolved not
o try travelling by day again,
hey began their third nights