The National tribune., 1885-04-23

| take shelter in a pile of driftwood When would
| mock about US would be covered with gators"
They would lie istlessy and laZily, with eyes al
most shut, looking hungrily and quizcaily out of
to leave, or for a chance to nab Of by the
| leg or arm and run. Mark grew supersiitious of
| these creatures. He said he had read OF wolves
| following famisled buffalo in the same manner
| and that sharks would hover around n ship from
| too even days before death had occurred or was
even suspected by the sailors. But the gators 4"
were cowardiy fellows and, on the least demon
stration on our part would scramble into the water
Still we feared that they might steal upon and lay
hold of US with their powerful jaws while we were
asleep We had learned that they were not apt to
attack. except when the object Of their roracious
| appetites lay quiet; but when they did lay
| hold that they were hard to beat Off They will
drag their victim, be it man or beast. instantly
under the water, where the struggle soon ends.
After enduring hunger long possibly
| could, we were finally forced second time since
leaving Columbus to go in search of something to
eat. This. think, about five ten miles above
Chattahoochee Landing 1T is not necessary to
late the particulars of search for human habi
tation and the story of deception told. 1t was
a little before dark when struck out on foot so
weak, hungry and faint that could not walk
many steps without resting in search of something
or anything we could devour We were successful,
or partially SO, at least, and came back safely,
much strengthened as well as elated over good
| luck, when to great disIIlay and ehagrin, we
| found that our boat had been stolen during
absence.
| 1t was evident some one had seen us land and
watched until we left and then taken the boat.
| cannot describe feelings. We scarcely knew
what to do The night was very dark and il rained
necessarily. We waded about in the water, tall
grass and cane, and after awhile found little
mound or hommock. which projected above the
water, and on which we perched ourselves for the
night Such dismal long, rainy night il was.
too! 1t did seem If the mosquitoes would
had ceased. Had it not been for the food we had
eaten, believe we would have given up in de-
| spar. When morning came. waded up and
down in the cane and grass all forenoon, and about
the only discovery we made was that another river
came in just below us, and We could not go far
ther without a boat
| During the afternoon deserted something on
the far side of the river that looked like boat
partly sunk in the water, one end only of which
was out. The next trouble was to get to 1t, the
river was about three-quarters OF % mile wide, as
near could judge. We found an old piece of
plank, which we ashed on three flat rails with a
grape vine, and with piece of narrow saye for q
paddle and to fight off gators twined my legs
| firmly around the center OF the frai craft, while
Mark pushed it off into the stream and stood at the
edge of the grass watching me. The raft sunk
down until the water came about my waist, but
stuck to it, and after about an hours hard work
effected a landing the far side and not long after
found myself rewarded in the possession of much
better boat than the we had lost the night be-
fore. was not long in bailing out the water and
rowing her back to where Mark was, whose graft
tude found expression in tears and hearty hand
shaking as he crept into the boat with me.
We now piled our paddles energetically for q
while until we felt sure we had passed ont Of rea
Of the owners of the boat, when we put into the
cane and secreted ourselves until night. After this
would not both leave again while our journey
lasted starve or no Starve. During the following
day, while we were laid up waiting for night and
lighting mosquitoes, went out, skulking about to
see what could see. and in passing through old
field found some hooks and lines in old
cant cabin. i appropriated them, and we found
them godsend to us for they proved the means of
keeping us from actual starvation.
We must have had touch of scurvy, for our
mouths and gums had become feverish and
teeth were loose, and would bleed constantly when
we attempted to chew the corn: This was the con-
ditiOn we were in when, providentialy, we became
possessed Of the fish hooks and lines.
And now for y feast on raw catfish of which we
caught plentiful supply we iourneyed on in
the night. have previously neglected 10 mention
that had with me old -baded knife with
out any back, which was our only weapon defens-
i've offensive. This old knife had secreted when
we were in the Atlanta prison. and had keptit with
me precious treasure during all our wander
ings With this knife and our fingers managed
our soaked corn. Matches we had none. had
we been able to get any, and had no fire. /
could eat only mouthful or two OF the raw fish at
a time My stomach was weak and feverish, and
rebeled against the flesh. Still it tasted palatabe.
Mark, poor, hungry fellow. tore it from the bones
In great moutnfuls. like a rayenous wolf until
would beg OF him to deSist. fearing the results He
would sit and crunch the bloody flesh. and look at
me with Wild strange stare, and never speak
word. His eyes were sunken away in his head,
almost out of sight and as he would seize q fresh
piece the pupils of his eyes would diate with the
gloating ferocious expression of panther other
carnivorous wild beast. had frequently heard of
men losing their reason and going mad from the
effects of protracted hunger and sometimes shud-
dered 1 looked at its telling effects on poor
Marks wasted frame, and the unnatural glare Of
his eyes. He would mutter and groan in his sleep,
and sometimes scream out as if pierced by knife,
when he would suddenly start up and call my name.
Towards the last of our journey his condition was
much of the time cause of great anxiety to Inc.
STILL after we began to eat the fish he seemed much
better and only feared the unnatural quantities of
the raw flesh would kill him.
We were now nearing the bay, as was plain to be
seem for on each succeeding morning the river had
became
that we were nearing large town which after
wards proved TO be Appaachicola, and this made
anxious to learn something of the state of affairs
below,-whether they were rebel picket-boats, or
Instructions, such as torpedo-boats and the like.
About this time we discovered a cabin some dis
tance from the shore, and, to have plausible
cuse, took an old pipe Mark had, and filed it
with q few crumbs of tobacco which ished from
my old coat Innings, and then taking piece of rot
ten wood which would retain fire, left Mark with
the boat and walked over to the house to get
light for my pipe. Tho occupants OF the cabin
proved to be an old Scotchmau and his wife. He
very inquisitivc, and asked more questions
than cared to answer But managed to evade
BILE information. learned that we were about five
miles above Appalachicola, and that the Federal
blockading squadron was stationed at the mouth
of the bay, Is miles below the city. hurried back
to the boat, and found Mark rejoicing a little
armful of sweet potatoes he had stolen from
gros canoe, which lie had discovered in my absence
We got into the boat and at padded to the
other side of the bay river, where we entered
into an inlet creek, up which ran for some
ulStsiilce. when we caulc 10 u uefSe cdilSDrisRS.
Here we secreted ourselves and built little fire,
roasted fish and potatoes parched corn, and dined
in right royal style, although we felt the need of
little salt Two hungry wolves never ate more
raycnously than we did, although were obliged
to restrain ourselves, and leave oil while yet hum
cry. Ii with the utmost difficulty that 6bso-
iutey forced Mark to quit After eating enough
for four men, thought he still begged for more.
l finally induced him to go to sleep, and stored
away some of the cooked fish and sweet potatoes
for the next day.
The information had gained was invaluable
to us. although felt had obtained il at risk.
When night came on we pulled out and passed
slowly and cautiously. We had moss in the bot
tom on the sides, and In the seats of boat for
comfort. As soon we had gone well past the
city. whose bright lights we could plainly see,
crossed the bay to the city side below the city, in
the hope of finding 8 more seaworthy boat We
were unable TO find any other boat, however, and
pulled down the bay as fast could. While
the midst of large school of huge fish of some de-
scription, from which apprehended danger
every instant These monsters would swim along
all sides of us. with great fins sticking than
u foot out of the water, and extended like great
fan. One of these fish could easily have wrecked
our boat with its huge body. We hoped to reach
the blockading fleet before daylight but the night
grew cloudy and we were unable 10 tell what course
we were running, rs the bay grew wider and wider
as we went out. We decided the best thing We
could do to pull for land. which we reached
after midnight, pretty we'll exhausted with our
hard work mt the paddles. We tied up boat and
went To "a thcket by and slept soundly.
When we awokc in the morning, we were checred
by the beautiful Surroundngs,-all Just nature
had fashioned them, for the habitation handi-
work of man nowhere to be seen. Our couch
had been bed of prckly grass, that caused sting
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