Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-09-20

group. and in q short time the most of lem
were sound asleep, as could be attestM by
their constant, regular breathing.
About midnight the leader arose to
sitting posture and, shaking one on either
side, called out:
"Come boys, come"
In an instant the FIVE we're on their feet,
and, getting their traps together were max
ing preparations for trip. The horses
were saddled, and in few moments more
the leader led the way out of the brush.
They took the same direction from which
they had come, and in short time were
again on the Wire Road They went as
close to the Eddles negro quarters as they
thought safe, and, taking their horses
into thicket, tied them securely and
made their way on foo. among the buildings
in which the negroes slept. When they had
reached the hut occupied by Sylvia and
Nancy, they cautiously crept up to the old
rickety door which the occupants had not
considered it worth their while to fasten,
and gently pulled the latch string when
the door swung in on its creaky, wooden
hinges.
The women partly raised themselves at
the sound of the door opening, but before
they comprehended their danger they were
roughly grasped by the throat and COM
manded not to make sound or they would
be killed on the spot. The terrified negroes
dared not speak, even if they could have
done SO. They were ordered to dress and
make preparations to travel, and in short
time were quietly hustled out of doors, and
while closely guarded were conducted to
where the horses We're tied
By this time they were sobbing piteously,
but stop was soon put to that by their
captors placing pistols against their heads
in no gentle mannerand demanding silence.
The lazy men tied their captves together
and then drove them ahead like cattle, max
ing them walk as rapidly as possible. They
drove them over the hills to White River.
which they reached just as daylight broke
over the beautiful scenery of that lovely
stream.
Winding around the base of a tall, rocky
bluff that rested down close by the stream,
and travelling short distance they came to
an opening in the cliff, into which they
drove the negroes, and, after securing and
feeding their horses, followed after The
cave was like hundreds of others in the
hills along that stream. The opening, al
though narrow at the entrance, gradually
enlarged to quite q room, with small pas
sage ways leading in different directions.
The branches generally make an abrupt
termination, but occasionally continue fo1
long distances. During the day the party
remained in and about the cave, closely
watching the captives
When night set in they were taken Out
and placed upon two horses, which were
furnished from some mysterious source
perhaps Woods!ey knew what-and all
turned eastward across the river, which
was easily forded, and travelled in a
nnI h ID AaN,D l.
along the stream, making as little noise
as possible, and going as rapidly as the
rough country through which they had to
pass would permit.
AS the night waned and the party became
worn halt was called at dilapitated,
abandoned log house, near lonely spring
that boldly gushed from the earth
The captlves were now allowed a reason
able amount of freedom, as it was the i'll
preston that they never could find then
way out of the hills, even if they had the
temerity to try it.
In this they were destined to be mistaken,
as we shall presently see.
After abusing the poor slaves and making
them prepare the common food they had
with them for the cary morning meal, they
drove them into the hut and then threw
themselves upon the grass under the grove
In front, and prepared for rest. The con-
slant travel during the night had told heav-
lily on all, but, while the men had only
bodily WEAKNESS to rest and were easily
wooed to sleep, it was not so with the cap
hves. The huddled together in a corner
and commenced at once planning an escape.
While they had implicitly obeyed every
command, and seemed to be perfectly sub,
missive, they had an idea of the robbers
object in running them further south, and so
they determined to try and escape, even if
they were murdered for SO doing.
CHAPTER ~.
THE ESCAPE.
Part of the roof at the rear of the hut
had succumbed to the weather and had fall
len in. AS the darkies crawled up and stuck
their woody heads above the split boards
that covered the roof the sun was beginning
to tinge the tops of the trees. In their
depths could dimly be seen the horses
cropping the thin grass that grew among
them.
The plan they had decided upon was a
bold one, and hardly seemed probable of
being success; but, nevertheless, death was
preferable to the hard life in the cotton
fields along the river, and as neither had
ever labored in the fields it would have
been beyond their endurance to do so now.
They were house servants in the Eddles
and their position was easy, and
now their great hope was once more to get
back to where .they had been so kindly
treated. and to what was in reality to them
/ home.
Sylvia, who appeared TO be the bravest of
The two, took upon herself to do the more
dangerous part. She told her companion
10 be ready. and when she saw that she
had secured the horses brides, to climb
out of the roof and let herself down and
crawl into the brush that grew near.
Don't yer make no noise, honey; of yer
does, Yer is gwine ter be killed, shore!"
After thus cautioning her, sylvia took the
arge tin pail and boldly opened the door
md walked out.
The men. half asleep, turned their faces
toward her, and one or two growled curses,
% which she replied by telling them to
shut their moufs, and continued on.
They saw she was alone, and had the ves-
sci. and supposing she was going for water
hey grunted and were soon asleep again.
As she passed through under the old shed
where the bushwhackers had deposited the
saddles and brides the willy negress
'umbled headlong TO the ground. She only
there an instant, but when she
Irose she had two of the brides in her pail,
md the deception was SO perfect that Nancy,
who was watching from the top of the hut,
vas not sure she had secured the coveted
articles and thought that the stumble was