The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-08-26

aGitupr

''Git upp
II was in 1864, down in front of
Grants army, and ! was mile or
SO outside the Union pickets, hav-
ing been on a scout. Id making my
way back l had been followed pret-
ty closely by half dozen Confeder-
ates,and had eluded them by hiding
in a thicket. After an hours rest l
was creeping along on hands and
knees towards the nearest field fence
when the above command reached
my ears, and "reb" stepped into
view from behind a large tree.
"Yank, in course ?" be gueried
as he looked me over. holding his
carbine ready for shot.
| nodded my head in the affirma-
tive.
How are you heeled ?"
/ had a navy revolver in my belt,
and showed it to him.
He threw down his carbine, drew
a navy revolver from his own belt,
and, coming quite close to me, he
said:
.Yank, one of us has got to die
A week ago some of 'uns set the
cabin afire and turned my poor old
motasr out into the fields to take
sick and die. l swore on her grave
that | would kill the first Yank /
could draw bead on, and you're my
meatl"
Are you going to shoot down a
prisoner in cold blood ?n
"That amt Silas Curtis - not
much It's ten paces-one-two-
three-fire. You shall have fair
play"
"You mean we shall fight duel?'
"Sorter one. expect you'll shoot
at me an miss, and III shoot at you
and put ball through your head.
I'm no bushwhacker to shoot a man
down without show, but I'm dead
certain to kill YOU all the same."
We backed away from each other.
The woods were fairly open, and
when we had thirty feet between us
there were no distractions to defect
a bullet or annoy the eye.
"All ready, Yank ?"
"Yes."
an be fair. You may do the
counting. Good-by to you, for I'm
dead shot,
"One-two--three-fire"
The two pistols made one report,
but as the noise filled my ears l
went down. l was bewildered, half
unconscious, but realized that | was
hnrt.
"Shoo, now, but | just raked his
skalp!n | heard the man say as he
bent over me. Say, Yank, we'll
have to have another shot. You cut
powerful close to my ear, and mebbe
l lodged bit. Come, fair play, ye
know"
| tried 20 raise up, but fell back,
and that moment two bushwhackers
pushed out of the woods and came
running up. l heard loud talking,
oaths, threats, and a bullet from a
pistol tore through the cloth on my
shoulder. Then l must have faint
ed, for the next thing / remember
was of being carried on the mans
back through the woods. When he
felt me moving he laid me down
and asked:
Say, Yank, how fur is it to your
lines ?"
About a mile from where we had
the fight"
Straight north?'
Yes"
Because those bushwhackers was
bent on killing you, and. to see fair
play, / had to plant 'em both. Reck-
on | hain't no more business in the
confederacy after this. Reckon Un-
Gle Sam won't be any wuss on me
nor JEFF Davis. Yank, kin ye hang
to my neck? ?"
'Yes."
"All right. Keep this ERE hand
kerchief sorter waving a signal to
the pickets, and III carry We safe as
an ambulance.
And clinging to the back of the
man who had thirsted for my blood.
/ was soon inside the line, and Silas
was explaining to the pickets:
"No, / hain't 70 deserter. I've
been sorter driven in here because
Sile Curtis will see fair play if it
takes a leg"