Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-02-20

small swamps successfully it was
no longer a matter of debate
whether to enter them. So on
the seventh night they penetra-
ted a large swamp or lake which
proved a very hazardous under
taking. The night was very dark
which yelled the desolate scene,
and rendered them more daring;
Jesse led the way and the Others
in single file followed. The
swamp grass which was very
thick and grew to a height of
eight or ten feet hindered them
greatly. The water gradually
became deeper and deeper until
it was about their shoulders.
Buffalo, whom nature had failed
to make with a view Of wadino
deep water, was already beyond
his depth and mounted frog-fash-
ion on the back of one of his
self-denying companions. Jim,
being the tallest, to him was re-
signed the front place in the line.
He had purchased chicken the
same evening which they meant
to convert into a breakfast; this
he tied around his neck to keep
it alive, and the procession again
went forward. The amphibious
animals seemed to be giving them
a concert as they passed. Of all
the hideOus noises they had ever
heard these seemed to be the
most fiightful. Nuby afterward
affirmed that sail the hobgoblins
of Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress
were in that lake" Amid the
din Of discordant noises, it was
suggested that they reload their
pistols as they had been loaded
before the fall of Fl. DCreIsOn.
and had lain in a pair of old
shoes under barrack No. 10 while
at prison. So from the center
Of that swamp ten reports vibra-
ted through the midnight air,
heard, perhaps, only by the crea-
lures that FLASHED the water "a
bout them. As they approached
the other side they filled their
canteens. by placing their fingers
partly over the mouth to keep
out the tadpoles and frogs. Hav-
ing unanimously agreed never to
undertake another swamp they
proceeded. Daylight found them
in Twelve Mile prairie where nei-
ther timber nor houses were Wis
ible in any direction. Wet, hum
cry and fatigued they lay down
upon the grass to rest. Overcome |
by hardships their appointed .
watches were soon as fast asleep
as the others. There they lay
baskinS in the sun with the earth
as a bed and the sky for a COW
ering, dreaming perhaps of home
and mother. "What is that,
boys" said Jim, rubbing his
eyes and sitting half upright.
There were a number of objects
in the distance but the young
menwerenot sure what they were.
"Let's rum" suggested Nuby.
at s nothing" replied Buffalo,
contemptuously, as he settled
down to finish his nap. '"I'll bet
they are Yankees" said Nuby;
to which Buffalo replied only by
snoring voluminously. On a
closer approach they were recog-
nized as herdsmen and cattle;
concluding that it was not safe
to remain, they arose and walked
slowly away. When they came
to the edge of the prairie they
passed out between the farms
and no one seemed to take any
particular notice of them; but
the first hiding place they found
was put into immediate use.
Night found them again travelled !
prairie country; large {
fat horses more than once walk
ed gently up inviting them to
pat them. Atone time Buffalo
caught one, and because the 9th
er boys would not agree for him ,
to press it into service, he made
brief quotations from profane
history. Sometimes when he
was weary and cross he would I
sit down and say, II can't and / /
wont go another step" But a.
bout the time his comrades would I
pass out of sight he would change
bis mind.