Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-03-22

neglected. 10 post lne USUAL Sparu III
the bridge.
He had ridden 10 this point to meet
Colonel McCauley, resident planter,
whose crop he had partially bargained
for
McCauley was not there, as agreed
upon probably deeming it not safe to
cross the creek into the Union lines in
tho absence of the usual guard and
knowing there was no guard, did not
expect the doctor.
The bridge was the neutral ground
on which buyers aud sellers made terms.
IL was known among the soldiers as the
Cotton Buyers Exchange.
AS there was considerable competition
among the purchasers. Watson was
disappointed in not meeting the planter
he had come so far to see.
He looked at his pass. There it was
eXpl city specified that he might go
'as far as the cavalry picket But
there was no picket guard there Nc
Cauley lived but two miles hey ond the
bridge. 1t was necessary that he should
see him, as there was much to be ma le
by the purchase of this mans cotton.
He rode on TO the bridge. Al was
quiet. There were no indications that
any party OF the enemy were within
miles of the place.
who knows thought Watson, but
the picket has been extended, I'll see
And he ventured beyond the bridge
and some distance into the swamp.
Hang it, he exclaimed, rs he sank
his spur into the rank of his horse,
picket, or no picket, I'm now outs ide
the old Federal lines, and | must see
McCauley, so here goes, and galloping
through the creek bottom, he tried to
| Justify himself for this constructive
disobedience of orders, by saying he
had not yet reached the picset guard.
AS he rode through the bottom, " at
son examined carefully the path to see II
any fresh horse tracks were to be seem
There were none.
This satisfied him that no guerrillaS
had approached the br dye since the
cavalry guards had been last there. He
therefore thought he ran no risk in
pushing on to the planter house.
As was his habit, however, he had
his revolvers in readiness. and kept Il
sharp look out about him as he rode
| through the woods.
The doctor had reached within sight
of the clearing of the plantation he was
in search Of when, in passing through
a close thicket of second growth, he was
startled by the sudden ruStling OF the
dried leaves that strewed the ground
Checking his horse for a moment, he
drew one of his si>-Shoo.ers from his
scabbard and listened. Thinking il
might have been only the leaping OF a
frightened rabbit he was in the act OF
moving forward when, suddenly, a
rifle shot close at hand. burst upon his
ear, and his horse fel dead beneath him.
Instantly he found himself surround
ed by party of Confederate soldiers
and half-scorc revolver mulzles star
ing him in the face.
Watson's first impulse WAS to empty
| his revolvers upon his assail-
ants, but second thought told him
better True, he might kill one or
more of them. but what good could
result from that?-the next moment
his body would be riddled with bullets.
'Ha! ali! You id Yankee Dror
your shooting irons, or we'll DOL your
carcass for YOU shouted fellow who
seemed to be the leader OF the utter
nuts. Throw down your gun at once
| There's no use. old fellow, we're toe
many for you
Watson thought discretion was the
better part of valor Just then, and
yielded.
We'll, boys said he, I'm your pris.
oner. but don't think you give me q
good show \ dozen of you against one
poor fellow
That's so, old chap, good naturcdly
answered one of the Confederates I'VE
did got little the start of you, that's O
fact.
I've been prisoner twice before,
said Watson, wishing to proptiate their
good will, and faint so bad after all,
for the boys treated me well enough
then, and I've no doubt you'll do the
same.
Don't know about that, old fellow
but | reckon this is the third and last
time you'll be prisoner among us, fol
by-we've orders to hang all SIGH as
YOU
Il hope not so bad as that, my
friends, returned the doctor. But
what do you intend to do with me now?
said he as he stepped away from the
body of his horse.
ooh! we won't hang you now, Yank,
but come along - this way. Well take
you to the lieutenant.
And disarming him, they surrounded
their pr soner, and conducted him some
half mile into the swamp, where he
found camp o. about fifty cavalry
men. He was introduced to the officer
in ommand of the party, as "a fanket
cotton buyer they had just captured.
he lieutenant was young man
wearing the gray uniform of the regular
Confederate army. But his men were
all dressed in the shabby, butternut
homespun of guerrillas. In fact they
were portion of the command of the
guerrilla chief, Roddie, one of the cut
throat Forests followers.
The officer regarded Watson with al
expression of severity, and demanded
in no very gentle terms: What are
you; and what the devil brought yor
outside the Yankee linesp'
Knowing that it would be useless &c
attempt to deceive, tho doctor frankly
acknowledged that he was what hi.
men had asserted, and when arrested
nv them was on his way TO the mex