Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-08-19
CHAPTER XVI.

! - CHAPTER XVI We found a road, which Liz directed i us to, and which she assured us iran | plum est foh bout ten mile" Along i this we fairly ran, holding each others hands to keep from stumbling. Where the road turned we left it, and, trusting to luck, took to the woods and fenceless fields.
 Now and then we saw camp-fires to the right and left, but we avoided them, for we dared not run the risk of an in- vestigation,
 It was near daylight, and we must have travelled fully forty miles from our last stopping-place. when from the crest of what was a considerable eleva- l tion for that region we saw campfire beneath us. It was so near that we could see mon in long overcoats grouped about the fire, with their rifles stacked | within reach.
 This seemed to be a reserve picket post, The men had built the fire among the branches of large tree that had becn uprooted by the wind. Keeping in the shadow of the great mass of earth still clinging to the roots, we made our way to the tree.
 "Stay here and I'll sec if can learn who they are." said Howard. and before could stop him he had left me. He crept along tho trunk, but he had not gono far before a stick broke under him. saw the men seizing their rifles, and heard the command: Halt! Who goes there?"
 Don't fire; I am a Yankeer' called out Howard, as he rose to his feet and advanced towards the fire.
 We belong to the Twenty-First Vir- ginia, and are out searching for you fellows" This heard in response to Towards question. My first impulse was to run, but with flush at the meanncss of the thought of deserting my gallant young friend, walked up to the fire, and was greeted with cheer and a roar of laughter.
 ''I am sorry you didn't make it, gen. tlemen, said Lieutenant Brown, the off, cer in command of the post.
 He made us sit by the fire and one of his men brought us some bread and bacon, but our appetites were gone. During the hour preceding daylight Howard Scott's pale face took on the age of many years, but the light in the fine, brave eyes did not flicker for an in- stant.
 With the first light of day our guards formed about us; we were faced towards the west, and the return march to Libby began. Now we realized, for the first time, how cold and weak we were, and how swollen and blistered were our feet
 Wo climbed the slope from which we had first seen the campfire, and on the instant, with cries of surprise and alarm, our guards broke away from us and fled through the wood.
 Forward! Trot! Gallop! ChargeW Like buglo blast we heard the familiar com- mand in our front Dazed and tremb- ling we sought the shelter of a tree and clung to each others hands,
 Wo heard the quick pounding of hoofs, the clinking of scabbards, the hoarse, deep cheer that followed the order "Charge" Then gleaming sabres flashed before our eyes, and horsemen in blue swarmed about us.
 "Friendsl FriendsI Thank God!"
 My arms were about Towards neck and l was kissing him and crying with the weakness of an emotional woman, for the terrible strain was over.
 It was General Butler who, hearing of the escape, had sent these men to our rescue. It would take volume to re- cord the kindness of our friends from the time of the rescue till we entered Fortress Monroe and exchanged our vermin-covered rags for decent gar ments,
 The day we reached Washington I read the following dispatch in morn ing paper:
 "SANDUsKY, O., February 19, 1864.
 Captain Frank Brent, the Confed- crate Partisan Ranger, who was con- demned to death last November for the wanton murder of John Harding, a re- spected Union citizen of Perryville, Ky, and who was respited by the Pres ident for ninety days, will be returned tomorrow to Camp Dick Robinson, where the sentence will be carried out"
 Much of Howard Scott's bitterness against Frank Brent remained, but he was too manly to permit even a hated foe to die ignominiously for a crime of which he knew him to be innocent He did not require much urging to 60 with me to General Holt. That gentleman greeted us cordially, heard our plea for Frank Brent, and at once took us to the President and stated our case for us,
 -GDFNT FS