The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-22

faint lines, the true face Of the country and Of
events. Yet had no hesitation in controlling
my conduct with respect to the faint rather
| than the bright pictures, and was only once
| for few minutes, deceived, and then by sup
posing the real TO be fictitious. The error very
nearly involved me ia serious difficulty. At
| q cross road saw from distance what sup
| posed at first to be a group of my spectral
| friends standing around fire, the r1ddy blaze
| of which rendered. them clearly visible. They
were not so beautiful as former figures, but 1
| advanced unsriSpectingly towards them, and
| would probably have continued until too late
| for retreat had not my progress been arrested
| by sound Of adj Others least romantie-the
squealing of a pig /! The men around the fire
| had caught the animal, and were killing it
preparatory to roasting it in the fire! This
| Immediately drove away the seraphs and the
| angels! listened, aud became convinced that
| they were picket sent out to watch for just
such travelersas myself. Some dogs were with
| them, but these were fortunately, too much
| absorbed in the dying agonies Of the pig to
! give attention to me.
I crawled cautiously away, and made long
circuit through the fields. A dog from farm
house made himself exceedingly annoying by
following and barking after me. l did not
apprehend danger from him, for l had man.
aged to keep my trusty revolver dry all this
| time, but l feared he would attract the atten-
| tiou of the picket.
When he left me returned to the road, but
came to three horses hobbled down, which, no
doubt, belonged TO the picket behind, and had
| to make another circuit to avoid driving them
before me. Then l pressed on, hoping that
some good chance, if not Providence, might
| bring me to the steep banks of the Tennessee.
| Yet was not sanguine, for the country was
more open and level than / expected to find in
the vicinity of the river. Very many miles
possibly a score, or even more, for my pace
was rapid were passed in, this manner,
| but at last my visions began TO fade. | was
sorry to see them go, for they seemed like a
| good omen, and they had been cheerful COM
panions. When the last form of beauty disap-
| peared the chill horror of my situation froze
| into my veins; my strange strength also passed
gradually away. I would find myself stagger-
| ing along almost asleep,-would wander short
distance from the road to- secluded spot, throw
myself on the flooded ground and be instantly
asleep.-then, in few moments, awaken, al
most drowned by the pitiless rain. and so weary,
cold, and benumbed that l could scarcely rise
and plod onward.
Thus the latter part of that dreary night
| wore on. 1t seemed an age of horror, and
places shuddering gulf between my present
life and the past. At length the cold gray
dawn of a clouded morning broke through the
weeping sky. Day brought no relief. l had
not yet any guide. and had not stumbled ON
the Tennessee. / feared to make inquiries.
Every one saw seemed-a foe. Still, l did not
avoid them. or leave the road for any great
distance. Slowly new plan formed itself in
my mind; for, if the rain and clouds continued
l despaired of working my way to our lines.
What this plan wagswill appear in due time
1t will be enough to say here that 1 did not
now think a capture would be fatal, if once far
enough away from the place where the train
| was abandoned, to piausbly deny all knowl-
edge of that raid. / hardly thought it possible
that l could endurd another day and night
alone in the woods. To prepare for all emer-
gencies, l carefully washed all traces of that
terrible night from my clothes. The wet
would not matter, for the falling rain account
ed perfectly for that.
1t was Sabbath morning. but it came not to
me with the blessed calmness and peace that
accompany it Amy star-off Ohio. l realized
how sweet those Sabbath hours and Sabbath
privileges had been, which had never valued
before. saw the people going to church, and
longed to go with them. OF course this was
impossible, but with the thought came more Of
feeling of worship and of desire for Gods
protection than | had ever known before. In
that hour l believe His blessed Spirit was call
ing me; but soon turned my mind in another
direction, preferring to plan for my own deliv-
erance, and to arrange, the stories | would tell
if arrested, or if l yeutured to any house for
food, as would soon be necessary.
tn he continual