Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-01-03

SsS& ~ @-S@1c8 AeAxA A00ct80A'
Wills vhsnI sought . hiding place. ]
was mistaken. however. In the
darkness and rain, asd without the
slightsst suspicion on my part. I had
taken the wrong road ct the frst forks
and gone toward Columbus. I had
thus ch Gated myself ont Of fully 10
miles.
As daylight began TO break I enter
ID upon aplantation. having for the
last half hour bean following ssAAs .e.d
through the woods. Il was still rain.
Ing, and ! wanted shslssr fcr the day.
l1nnan naik light snessh to taks
an observation ! crossed an old cot
ton6sld to q cabin or building, which
turned out to be filled with cow-psas
on the vine. ! climbed in over the
vines and slowed mysslf away near
the roof. cold, soaked through and
through, and 20 tired out that I could
not 80 . rod farther. Ny crackers
had been reduced TO dough BY the
rain. and the bacon. none too good at
the start, now disgustsd me. I there.
fore lay down without tasting food,
and wasjuss doing off to sleep whs.
two-or three people came to the build
ing. A little later they went to work
on the peas. and I nsds out that
there were at least three old negroes
in the party. They were below me
and entirely unconscious. and after
time l got over my scare and went TO
sleep. 1t was noon when I awoks, and
what broke my slumbsrs was the voice
OF white man who came riding up
to the place. Looking out between
the logs saw that he was q Confed-
crate cavalryman, and from his mud.
splashed appearance I could guessed
thai. he had ridden many miles. His
salutation as he rode up was:
'Hol thar, you niggsrsl come Quit
Yes. mas'r, answered all in a
chorus, as they hurried to the door.
You are hiding a white man 10
tharl He came here this morning.
Bring him out or I'll have the three
Of you skinned alive
A white manY queried one.
Yes, d-n you'll Bring him outI'
For a moment ! gave up. believing
had been seen as ! crossed the fields.
My heart was in my throat as one Of
the negroes finally said:
No. mas'r, no white man ar hiding
yere. Nobody but as has dun been
yere dis mawnin'.
IF you lie to me I'll shoot you'll
shouted the trooper.
'Fo God, but we's dun told de troof.
mas'r.'
WELL keep your eyes open. If
You see a strange white man around
here do you let EN- know at the house
at once
Git away from de prison pen. sah?'
Yes, last night. Keep yer eyes
peeled
Yes, sah.'
With that he rode of, and was
satisfed that no trace had been found
of me. / fell asleep again in little
while, and when I awoke it was night.
was now thoroughly rested, but
sharp set. Satisfied that ran great
risk in trying for anything to eat on
the plantation, headed for the high.
way. and as soon as / struck it I set
of at brisk pace. While the rain
still continued, there was considera.
bic travel. and every half hour at
least / had to hide myself to let
travellers pass. I had walked 10 miles
before ] suspected that I was headed
for Columbus. / kept on until mid.
night, however. hoping to come to
some landmarks, which / should have
found long ago on the right road. I
then met negro. who told me it was
only nine miles to Columbus. He had
a bundle and was, / suspected, q run.
away. | gave him my confidence at
a venture, and it was my salvation.
He had been sold the year before by
his master at Jackson, Miss, to . man
living near Hswkinsville, Ga. A
week before ! met him be had run
away. planning to get to Grants line
in Mississippi, and just as encounter.
ed him be had been raiding . pIanta.
tion for Ffovisions. In ten minutes
VIC knew we could trust each other.
Up to thie time / had carried the
lientenants uniform. thinking to don
it. if worst came to worst. and put on
bold face. The negro. Who was
called james, advised me to sbardou
it. which I did, and wo entered the
woods. cooked same of his meal and
bacon and lay hid all next day.