The National tribune., 1886-10-07
TWICE A PRISONER.
The Iieutenant's Escape, and His Cap
tre by a Woman.
ny A. HAVEN, STAR VALLEY, KAN.


small detachment Of Coniederates that had
been sent ont by Van Dorm TO reconnolter the
eneuv's pasiton The excitement OF the lllue
band of giayooats was of Jubiiant nature.
They had surprised and captured gallant
Young Union officer, who had been riding along
rather carclessly through dense Arkansa,
cauobrake. a short distance from the feeerai
lines The young officer Lieut.. Arthur Mart
well, was OF duty. lie was just recovering
from a wound received in an engagement De
tween two skirmshing parties which haa sur
prised each other on the banks OF the Nhlte
River
Lieut.. Hartwell spent much Of his time while
convalesciug in the saddle, hoping that ire
Quent exercise on his superb horse would soon
put him In military trim again. The Union
spies had reported no C0nioderates within *
miles Of camp that morning The Lieutenant
had ridden OFF carelessly in the afternoon
wandering farther from the Union lines than
he had intended Some fine wild fruit on a
distant mountain slope had beguiled him away
After RECALLING himself freely on the luscious
fruits of tue wildwood. he turned his horse
head IN the direction OF the Federal camp
Midway of the extensive canebake through
which he had 70 pass in order TO gam the camp
the Young officer found himself surrounded by
a little band of heavily booted rebels, and IN a
moment WAS a prisoner, deprived of his revolN.
ers. his arms pinioned by brawuy hands, and
his horse securely held by a gruh specimen Of
the South
johnny Reb too smart for young Yank this
time" ieerngly remarked the one who held
like remorseless vice, hecaptiye's brdlc-rein
Well gentlemen, you have decided adj
vantage over me; so I'll endeavor 10 make q
virtue of necessity by surrenderiug as grace
fully a. possible" replied the young officer with
all the GOODNESS be could summon.
Af.sgb I'VE meyer DIN yer a chance 10 sur
render; we gObbied yer up like hen does q
grub worm" said one of the more facetious OF
tho Coniedcrates, who had been making merry
over the capture.
"That's list what we done" assented the one
who had bestowed the title of Johnny Reb y
on himself, and who still grasped Hartwell's
bridie-rein.
"Wen, boys" spoke the jubilant rebel, 1--WE
haven't scarf up nary thing for supper yit
Suppose we build fire and roast this iniernal
Nank."
For answer the others feigned TO scent a bad
smell and held their noses.
"Oh, understand! Yer don't like skunk
meat All right, wen take him down TO camp
and let Van Dorm have him fer dessert on
toast, and loud laugh greeted this announce
ment"
Lieut. Hariwell sat on his horse, apparently
calm. But TO be the sole butt of such uncOuth
tests was CALLING 10 his proud manly spirit. Try
as he would he could not repress all the indig-
nation he felt. il famed on his handsome
fair face and in his clear, blue eyes His well
formed white teeth held the lips firmly together
under a sweeping blonde mustache. After his
first speech he determined TO control his tongue,
knowing that silence in his case would prove
the better part Of yalor.
Before more could be said the tramp Of near
hOrsemen coming directly toward them
through the thick cane, put every man on his
guard Each grasped his carbine, ready for an
emergency. Lieut.. Hartwell for the time be.
ing was forgotten. The rebel who held his
reign on the first intimation Of danger relaxed
his firm hold and turned his attention TO the
coming horscmen Every eye of the rebel band
was glued, as it were, in that direction. We're
they friends or foes? The tall, dense canes
prevented an immediate answer TO the mute
question formed in the mind of each brawny
Confederate, In tine momentary excitement
which prevailed Lieut. Hartwell, quick al
thought, Slipped from his saddle and darted of
Through the towering canes.
His captors, too fiXedly occupied in awaiting
agllmpse OF the yet invisible h0rsemen, did no
at once discover the disappearance Of their pris
oner. When Johnny Reb" shot a swift glanc,
back ward and saw the empty saddle a smOth
cred oath broke forth He was SO irate that b,
gave Hartwel's horse singing blow with hi
away toward the Onion lines. A second oatl
fell from the rebels lips. At the same time ia,
horSemen came Ia sight, and an exclamation o
delight burst from each man as lac loOsencd hi
grip on his carbine. The gray attire of tn
new corners quoted their alarm. IL was sOol
8sccrtained that they also belonged TO Nal
Dorn's force.
Greetings were exchanged and intelligence O
The capture and escape was given. They he'll
laasFr rnfaffs A. l.
the horses IN an adjacent grove under guard O
three Of the party. IL was impossible for
horse 10 penetrate the cancbrake on account @
the density Of It's vegetation aud numerou
boys. The rest would set Off without furt he
delay in pursuit Of the escaping Union Officer
Striking into the thicket where Hartwel ha
commenced his flight, the pursuers were 500
deep in the intricacies Of the Arkansas cane
brake. They were sanguine Of Oyertaking Tn
prisoner He could not be far ahead.
In the meantime the young Lieutenant wa
making gigantic strides through the bos1
brake stumbling over clinging vines whic
had raukly tangled themselves around Oh
canes, splashing and dashing into little pools {
hidden, stagnant water; then out again ahd o
with more precipitation than before, aud int
another worse than the last, frcclling his boot
and blue uniform with clayey splashes. II
physical condition was not adequate TO IN
his pursueIs were not far behind The takin
of a Union officer was too great an honor
b. lightly given up. lie must increase h
speed.
The Autumn day was intensely close. TT
sun seemed 10 have a special spite al that pa
ticular locality, pouring down its rays withol
intermissIon. The huge cane delied the ADM
sion Of a single breeze.
Ere the Lieutenant had gained the southeI
margin OF the brake great beads Of perspiratio
stood all over his face and trcl1lcd down h
fever samcd checks while bis limbs tremble
from the fatigue Of his nasty flight
The canebrake terminated abruptly. Whe
Hartweil reached the edge he paused m
ment irrcsolute what step 10 take next. Il
dared not conceal himself in the canes II
hinG hlm, in swift pursuit, he could hear II
heavy boots Of the rebels breaking down d
canes and bTambles, leaving no nook unsearcl
ed. There was no safety Tor him there.
Jusl beiOIe lim, through picturesque grol
of stately cottonwood aud hickory trees Har
well sass beautiful Southern home surrOun
ed ~ world Of flowers of almost tropic
ma2niiicencc. Through a network Of green
grand Old stone house could be seen with
lovely lowering vine clalnbering TO the vel
caves aud vailing one entire side ID was ii
home OF refinement aud Southern ease al
doubtless owned by some abettor of the rel
cause Should he seek refuge there he won
In al likelihood be turned over TO his IA
Confederate captors. Besides ii was humiia
ing 10 his proud spirit 10 ask protection al d
hands 0i a Southern family who believed IA,
rights bad been tramplcd under the iron Il
OF the North
But the Lieutenant was not given long
decide which way he should fly. His pursu,
had approached 30 near that he could he
them cursing their ill-iuck lie realized III