Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-11-12

escape Our feet were so tough that we
preferred to carry our old boots slung
over our shoulders. We knew that ii
we did not 90 to the house that the man
whom we had just met and his friends
would soon be searching for us, and that
our only hope lay in getting away from
this plantation as soon as possible. Be-
tween the cotton field and the house we
turned sharply to the west till we came
to wood that extended back to the
swamp through which we had come
that morning, then we broke into a
double quick and kept on till the sun
sank down behind the forest wall.
Just before dark we struck road
leading in the right direction, and hear
ing voices ahead we concealed ourselves
till party consisting Of white man
and number Of black anen passed. We
could hear all they said, and learned
that there ''never had been d year since
de wah when de cotton was so powahful
bad in de grass" We started on again.
seeing an occasional light, yet dreading
to investigate its source, and quickenine
gur pace every time we heard the bark
ing of dog, for we feared that tie home
guard captain and his friends were on
our trail with bloodhounds.
1t was not till midnight that the strain
began to be seriously felt. The sky
clouded over, and as we could hear 10
sound Of pursuit we decided to 20 to
sleep in the woods through which we
were then moving. Prudence would
have dictated our resting by turns, but
we We're both so tired out that we
dropped off to sleep at the foot Of a tree
while we were discussing the propriety
of standing guardg
When we woke up It was to find day
breaking and the rain pouring down in
the steady way that indicated wet day
1t must have been raining for hours, for
our rags were SO heavy with moisture
that in order to wear them with comfort
we had to wiring them out The hard
tramp of the day before had left us stiff
and sore, and to add to our discomfort,
for we were very hungry, all the food
we had brought with us from the Geor-
gia side was gone.
Cutting two stout sticks we resumed
our journey, keeping in the side roads
to the left. which we knew would lead
us toward the Savannah river, and with
that for guide we reasoned that we
could not 60 far astray We passed a
number of ruined cabins and worn out
fields, but the country appeared to Be
daca7-fasl foy ffll al,o,,4 ,,C-,. vv-, sc =, -
sign Of life. In going through a stretch
of pines we suddenly came upon a group
Of barelegged, towheaded children play
ing beside brook, and at sight Of us
they stood stock still and gazed at US
with curiosity and awe in their eyes, AS
l have seen mountain antelope look when
confronted by a sudden danger. The
eldest was a girl Of about twelve, and |
vividly recall that, though evidently
frightened herself, she drew the other
children about her and shielded them
with her sunbrUwned arms ID 4 way that
was very touching
isis, said Bell in kindly tone that
seemed very natural, though since our
meeting in the Charleston poorhouse it
hna n2t been 4hahisual xith lin. We
uns il friends You uns mustn't feel
kkeert. =
I'VE amt skeert, said the girl. and
she drew a long breath.
We uns is soldiers, continued Bell
is your dad soldier"
He was, said the girl
"Ain't he now?"
She shook her head and compressed
her lips
"Why noty asked Bel.
''Kaze."
''Kaze why?'
'Kaze he's deadi" she gasped.
That's doggone bad; but then lots
and lots Of soldiers is dead, and lots and
lots noah is goin to peg out afoah the
trouble is over. We uns, us you seehar,
sis, is most nigh dead, but we uns don't
intend to 60 clar out till we uns ken
reach the wives and babies awaitin us
up in the mountains.
Bell and | were both single, but as his
purpose was naturally to ingratiate him
self with the child remained quiet. She
told us that the nearest town WAS Allen
dale, and that we were now in the Barn
well district How far Allendale was
she did not know, but she ''reckoned it
was a right smart distance, and this
vague reply we often received from older
and more intelligent people
On others matters the girl was much
more positive. She was certain that her
name was Min Long, and that she and
her mother and brothers and sisters lived
with her Grandfather billiard over by
the har1ican.' We subsequently found
that this "harrican" was stretch OF
country about mile back from the
river where a hurricane some years be-
fore had cut down swath Of timber
about half mile in width and miles in
length as completely as if it had been
levelsd by mighty scythe.
Bell sought to confirm himself in the
child's good graces by assuring her that.
although we were barefoot and didn't
have our best clothes along, we really
had lots Of money, and to prove the
latter statement he pulled out the wad
of Confederate money he had won on
the island and gave bill to each Of the
children On the instant their tilnidity
vanished, and they cheerfully consented
to pilot us to their home "over by the
harrican," and as they were sure that
their grandfather and one hand were the
only men on the place we thought it
quite prudent to go with them.
About mile further on we came up
on double log cabin on stills that left
a space underneath for swarm Of vel
low ours and lot OF disconsolate look
ing chickens As we neared the house
the children ran ahead, and when we
halted before the steps leading up to the
open space between the two cabins the
little ones were showing their money to
a yellow faced, hollow eyed woman
whose faded calico dress appeared to be
her only garment, and who held-cigar
fashion-between her thin lips willow
stick, which told at glance that she
was addicted to the habit Of snuff dip
ping.
'Howdee, strangers was the WON
ans salutation as Bell and doffed our
hats and stood before her.
Bell said that he was feeling very well,
excepting that he was little damp and
hungry and that if the lady would get
us something to eat and permit us to dry
our clothes before going on that he would
gladly pay her her own price, as he cared
far more for the accommodation than he
did for the money.
i = =