The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-07-10


guards at the doors and windows looked
like silent statues
"Where is hei" voice at last asked.
There was something peculiarly familiar in
that voice; but Luke was unable 20 tell 70
whom 1t belonged.
The sound of footsteps approaching his
prison door reached his ears, and next
moment the same strangely familiar voice
was heard speaking TO the guard. Some
one entered the apartment, and, coming TO
Luke's side, asked:
Gar ye the pris'ncrln
II was too dark for features TO DO recog-
nized at even foot.
81 am" the prisoner answered.
"Hain't ye Captain Mason"
Lam"
Don't We know me, Captain" the voice
asked in an undertono.
"No, though have certainly heard your
voice before"
Don't ye remember Dick Sneed, the
wounded reb at Fort Donelson, who told
ye bout Captain Ner gittn' awayl"
"Of course remember you, butt thought
you badly-wounded prisoner"
II warn't so bad hurt ez let on. only
did that ter git away an done it, an I'm
here. was at the house last night when
you runs charged It,"
And you got away"
"Tes, | run at the first, an wasn't seen,
except by "a cussed niger who run me three
mile inter a swamp, and shot at me dozen
times | laid fur him an knocked him
down wi tn butt o. my gun"
Luke at once knew that the negro al
luded To was Blackhawk, their mysterious
guide, and this accounted for his absence
which had caused their recent disaster.
did YOU kill himm he asked
"Dun know for sar,in, but hope did" tho
Confederate growlcd "fur never saw a
devil so hungry ter kill anybody as he was
me. 1t war so internal dark that couldn't
see his face, but half believe he war some
o. them black devils use ter walup when
war overseer"
few moments silence ensued and then
Luke said:
"Wcll, Sneed, did you expect TO ind me
herci"
ayes" the Confederate answered, aad
lowering his voice little so that the guard
might not overhcar him, he added: "Cap-
tain Neff sent me ter find ye."
"Whatl Is Captain Noff herei"
"Hush! not so loud r itll be all up with
our plans Ye see these fcllcrs can't be
managed like sojcrs. They're set o. blamed
thieves n murdcrers, N wouldn't miss
hangin yer fur any thing We couldn',
begin ter save ye 'nless twas done by STRAIT
ergy an sarcumvention, We know" All the
while he was talking in mere whisper,
and the stupid quart at the door, who was
draining the braudy-tlask Snecd had given
nm 10 allow him 10 enter, heard not u word
" We've got 1t bout fixed up" Sneed con-
tinued. I'm bout an hour boy'll come
fur ye, Don't yer aX him any questions.
don't yer speak word, nor even look
around, but follcr the boy. Now, d. We
mark what I'm say'n"
Every word"
"Will We carry u outr'
"Yesn
"Good-byc"
And he was gone. Gone ns suddenly and
silently as IL he had melted away into dark.
ness. Luke half believed no was still there.
and put out his hand TO feel for him, but his
hand found only darkness and tho empty
air. An hour passed and the silence was
broken only by the drunken, lnaudible muir.
murlng oftho guard 40 the door. Occasion.
ally he mumbled snatches OF IA song in a
hoarse, drunken voice, and Luke, who began |
to sec through tho plans OF Albert NeN and
DICK Snecd, trembled lest they had carried
IL too far.
AT last, however, the guard became quiet
and his heavy breathing told that he had |
succumbed. Some one came IN, and going
TO his side motioncd hum 10 rise, Ito did 60 |
A small, soft hand which he at once know 10 /
be che hand of the boy, was placed in his
and he was led from the room. In the hall
near the doorway he stumbled over some
one, and halfsmothcrcd curse came from
the drunken guard.
He was warned by gentle pressure on
his hand to be silent aud careful. Another
person joined them, and tho three went
softly from the house,
II was so dark that Luke could no more
see than il he had been totally blind They
were gong through the mud, and slowly |
making their way somewhere They |
crossed fence and were in the woods
Not "a word had yet been spoken, and be- !
yond an intimation that no was among !
friends, he knew not whether he was being |
led 10 liberty or death. AZ last they came /
To horses.
"Mount this one" sald a low, deep earn |
est voice which he recognized as Albert |
Nef's
"Albert, is II your
"Tes, hush-mount; we have not mo- |
ment 10 lose" was the whispered answer.
There were four of them. and they-
horses and started on, Albert and ,
Dick IN front, himself aud the boy bringing
up the rear. Their horses were soon climb.
avg a muddy hill.
Don't say word ~ said Major Neff, in a
cautious undertone. A few rods further
and voice from the darkness called:
"Haltri
The two refined in their horses.
"Who goes theroi"
"a friend with the countersign."
Advance and give IT,"
As thew roda forxvnr1 Alharf xyhiauarad. |