Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-02-09

hautnree pOunuS OF DrOWn sugar Ill
his house within year. The Others
had not had an ounce; one had not
tasted tea, coffee, sugar, wheat bread
or fresh meat (outside of wild meat
for over two years.
The still was about mile from the
house.
Ifany stranger came by the trail
one of the dogs was sent up the ra-
vine with a piece of cloth tied to his
neck. Half way between the two, as
/ discovered later on, was another
path intersecting. This came out of
another ravine, and was used by the
men only occasionally. The boy was
stationed at this intersection to watch
both paths and give an alarm if dan
ger threatened. 1t was, about II
o'clock in the morning when he came
running in and said:
"Spy coming, pop"
Then an instaneous and terrible
change took place in the bearing of
the men. We had been lying about
at ease, every man seemingly having
Il heart full of kindness, but this an.
nouncement started blazing fire in
every eye, set every jaw, and | could
see desperation in each face. 1t need
ed no handwriting on the wall to tell
me that the spy would be wiped off
the face of the earth without COM
junction il discovery threatened.
Burton beckoned to me, made sig
nal to the Others which they under
stood, and we climbed up the rugged
face of a rock, ran for quarter of a
mile over broken ground which was
well wooded, and then suddenly halt.
ed at a spot overlooking the second
path and high above it. Burton
made me sign as he crouched down
beside large rock, and cautiously
approaching | looked down into the
ravine and saw a solitary mantle
spy. He was coming up the path.
If he passed the spot where we were
stationed his scent alone would locate
the still.
"Click! Click"
"Good heavens! but you are not
going to shoot himw whispered to
Burton as he cooked his rifle
He half turned to look at me. Hi,
face was as hard set as iron.
"For the sake of earning few dol
lars he would see us starvew he re-
piled. "Hc knows his danger. Lei
him pass this rock and | will shoot
him.
/ dared say no more. Burton was
desperate and determined.
We looked down at an angle o
forty-fve degrees on the spy. Ior
could have told that he was spy by
his actions. He had the gait Of AZ
Indian bent on a surprise. He look
ed about him like one who expected
the whistle of a bullet at any mo
ment. He came slowly on.
Could ! signal him?
No! He was not looking up, bu
around him.
Coming-comi n g o m in ga d
vancing at a steady pace TOWARD
death. Would Burton shoot" lit
already had the man covered.
Thump! thump! thump!
1t was my heart pounding ava.
like q pile driver. 1t would be mur
der. | would be accessory. If I darcC
shOut-tO---
Thank God. Was it the fall Of
fragment of rock upon the mountain
side, or the hoarse call of the grea
buzzard poised above uswhich mad
the spy halt in his tracks? Ten fee
more and a finger will press the trig
ger. Hepeers this way and that
he looks up and around-he starts t
advance, but halts again. Is som
one praying for him-has he gual
dian angel who whispers warning
1t is two minutes two minute
which tick away 50 slowly that the
seem to be hours in length. ! lea
against the great rock, almost gasl
ing for breath, while Burton has hi
eye at the sights and his finger read
to pull. 1t is a tableau on the thre'
hold of death. 1t is pantOmime 9
the edge Of a grave.
"Go back! Go backn Gntreat i
mind to the spy.
He removes his hat, wipes his bro
and is evidently anxious.
off you value your life go back!
| would fain say.
He looks around him like one VIII
feels danger in the very air.
"YOu will be shot il you advanc,