The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-08
,NOL VINO. u

another; anu finding firm foothold ON a
rock, gave lurch which sent lis a dozen
feet nearer to land. I'm hundred yards be-
low we passed another sand bar, and a. a
bullet just then bored through the boat be
low water line | let 60 and BY tip tocing
hopping, and sputtering, with nose lust
above water, managed To reach the bank
What an eXuitant moment was that Al
though exhausted, chilled aud hungry. as
we'll a soaked like a drowned rat, | cut a
caper on the beach, waved my hat at the
Yankees, tore oft my Red W hite and Blue
necktie, with the showy spread eagle
badge, crushing both under my heel; aud
set out through confeld in search of the
nearest farm house, not for moment
doubling that safety and food and shelter on
Old lrglnny shore were reached at last
Woeful mistake most miserable unde-
ception! Six hundred yards through the
corn, and there appeared 4 fresh line ot
reeds And beyond great Heavens =
another rushing muddy river, nearly az
broad as that jus; crossed stood uDon az
stand, more helpless than before, because
now my boat was gone!
The upper Potomac after bursting
through the Blue Ridge range, rapidly
widens and deepens, and contains a success
sion of long narrow islands, well known a.
"Harrison's Island, : ''Smarts' Island :
Big Island, !" Jenkins and the like
Harrisons island two months later became
noted the world over, as being the Point q.
oppui of the fatal expedition to Leesburg,
or Balls Bluff the Federal troops cross
ing on pontoons to the island thence in
batteaux to the bluffs.
As my island was more than a mile long,
and as | landed near the centre, in the
gloom OF stormy evening, it was not sin
gular | mistook it for the mainland
\ BAD PREDICAMENT.
Yet it was disheartening discovery Recol-
lect that | had eaten nothing, except a little
hard corn for nearly three days, was bare
footed, and exhausted from over-excitement
The rain was pouring down, and twilight
settling with blackness that fitted like a
soggy black blanket over all the earth. But.
hold IA corn field signifies cultivation, and
cultivation betokens inhabitation Perhaps
some one lives on the island Fastening
westward | come out of the corn into an i'm
mense wheat field the island being divided
between the two grains. Imagine my JOY
on seeing in the middle of the field a two
story log house 1t was if the sun had
suddenly burst through the gloom True,
the denizen, might be loyal, and give me
trouble; but they could not deny food and
shelter, which, with rest. were become alb
solutely indispensable. Strange there are
no lights? Surely it is not bed time. The
door stands open; light fashes,-that is,
upon my mind the house is tenantless, -
deserted, ,-desolate The blighting imprint
OF ruthless war IS upon all the place The
islanders have fled apparently weeks ago
There are many signs that their departure
was hurried. Swinging on a crane In the
fire place IS pot Of what was once soup, or
hpIIa II HI L L I I
spread, and chairs are yet gathered around
1t, but the dishes are dashed about, and a
huge ham bone on the platter has been
gnawcd by the rats until it appears polished
by human hands. The bed retains Its mat
tress, and there Is an old sail-cloth spread
over 1t, blankets being gone. Over the
mantle piece hangs bird-cage containing
two white pigeons, forgotten in the hurry,
and now starved to death; one with its bill
thrust tar through the cruel wires, straining
tor liberty and dying in the effort \ pa
thetic sight
But | must not yield to melancholy YET
awhile. Those rascally Iankees, aware that
sm entrapped, and angered by my taunt-
Dark though it be, [ must search the island
Tor sklff. or some means Of escape. 1t i,
a wretched failure. The river, swollen
above It's banks, is overfowing the lower
portions Of the island, and in plodding
through the tall weeds repeatedly find my
self over-boot-top in water and it is not
easy to tel, in the darkness, which is land
and which is water.
Suddenly,-to my intense alarm-the earth
opens, and sink, nearly to the arm-pits in.
slush, foam, stubble and sand "a frightful
sensation, recalling like flash, all the
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