The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-08
RALEIGH n G, THURSDAY JANUARY s, 1880.

| this We're not lucky chance to supply
| themselves with money and clothes for then
Hight. Later occurrences certainly warrant
ed such slpposition, In fact their mena-
clng looks rather sobered old Sam, who re-
fused TO talk with them, and folowei la
very docilely.
At length, a little before sunset a line of
white waterlarches, or poplars Struggling
across the plain at right angles to the river
betoken our arrival ut the Horse Pen. =
The creek, sluggish stream, or succession
OF swamps, was ushered into the Potomac
by passing through an arched stone culvert
under the canal, Just as small streams are
passed through railway mbankments. But
where was Sam S 'stunboat?' Leaving
the negro to rest, [ followed the bank for
heartened with every step. Directly around
the culvert was a cleared space Of two or
three hundred yards. Into this open area.
| emerged unexpectedly, and as rapidly re-
treated; having in the brief interval discov-
cred two objects one Of which uplifted me
IN transports OF JOY; the other dashed me
down IN Despair literally into the Slough
of Despond - for [ stood knee-deep in
the oozlng marsh. The first glance revealed
the long-sought stun boat the ark of
salvation, freighted with all my hopes,
floating quietly at the culvert's entrance
And, oh! hideous sight !-on the levee, or
t63,w-path, directly in front, Of the boat,
Blue-coated videtae, quietly pacing to and
fro, with musket over his shoulder ~
For few breathless moments l crouched
amid the weeds where | could Just see the
tip OF the soldiers bayonet. Every hone
seemed gone though it WASH t. because 1
determined TO- stay there until something
turned up. But first to get RI. of Sam It
was severe trial to give him the extra
linen, fancy cravats, and fancy trinkets, with
other school boy treasures; but such had
been my promise ard he had kept, after a.
11ashlon, his part OF the bargain. 6 [ dun
kno'd dar walnut no chance ter git O. cross
he assured me- consolingly. Then in a
burst OF grateful confidence 'spect you
hadn't better go up in dat Bottom anv mo-
kase | tells you, mausta', dar's blood in
dem Nlrginny nigger's eyes agn' dis var
clos bag hearn EN- talk arter you walk
ed into de co n.
As for himself he intended to make a
wide circuit and go home after night.
DANGER BEHIND AND BEFORE
Returning to the edge of the cleared
space, L crawled among the wet weeds to
watch the foe. Sunset was at hand. thouoh
the storm darkened into the gloom of twi
light. Heavy thunder numbered in the dis
tance, the wind swept the river with loud
booming roar, and the rustling of millions of
dry blades OF corn sounded to my over
wrought nerves like some strange super-na-
tural symphony. Then the Heavens open
ed the Deluge descended In "a twinkling
earth was drenched, half drowned ! As for
me, what difference did it make? [ was
mlserably superior to every such discomfort.
But bark what Is that? The sound of
voices IN the corn-feld behind me And a
crashing, Swapping, sWayng of the tall cane,
as II OF men running. Soon they will strike
the creek, and come down upon me
Half arising to look for an hiding place
among the reeds | make blood stirring
discovery: the sentry has left the culvert,
and taken shelter, with a comrade, under
large tree, nearly one hundred yards down
the levee They are standing together,
with hats pulled down, and a single oil-cloth
wrapped around the shoulders of both In
stantly my resolution is taken. Uttering
little prayer as | run across the cleared
ground threshing down the reeds and weeds
with what seems to my excited senses the
noise OF a locomotive, | tumble into the
boat, headlong, and rest a moment to take
breath, and listen. Had there then come a
yell from the men IN the corn, or the SOL
diers In front, | think [ must have dropped
down dead. But miss is as good as
mile. The booming Of the storm saved
me-.
And now to unfasten the boat, which is
chained to rock on the bank After try
ing my keys on the paddock, and failing to
break the chain, tear up the seat, strip
of pine, five inches wide, and by great
stress manage to slide rock and all into the
bow of the boat Then, to my dismay, I |
perceive there are no oars