Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-11-25
VIRGINIA. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER o. 1891

supply my necessities for at least week
longer
The adventure that closed my career
of danger is the only one, after quilted
the coast, that deserves TO be mentioned.
had been travelling mostly on foot
since | made my escape and now, after
many tedious delay, there remained but
one critical step to be taken to determine
my fate, a distance of ten or twelve miles
was before me and had to pass though
the village of-to reach my destination.
For greater security | was advised 10
make this last stage of my Journey by
night, and by no means 70 enter the vii
lage till dags, as there was known to be
spies in the place always on the alert,
At sunset, coming in sight Of the set
lement, halted 20 rest and to see where
best 10 conceal myself while | waited for
night
There stood, little to the left of the
road, clump of thick evergreens, to
which, as the nearest refuge, straight
way directed my course. On reaching
the spot | Was greatly assured to find ii
a graveyard. This, of all places, |
thought, is the one most fortunate for me;
so leapiDg the low stone wall, proceed
ed to examine the surroundings. \ fam
lily vault, in a crumbling condition, bore
the name of the village; and some of the
tombs were Of older date. In one spe-
cial corner of the enclosure was n group
of fresh graves, where | took it to be that
the soldiers were buried and among
these ! noticed new mound, which, from
the flowers upon il, thought had been
raised that morning.
read the inscriptions from tomb to
tomb till it got too dark to decipher them
Presently lights from the distant houses
began to appear; and | was just think
ing it time to go, when the sound Of some
vehicle coming my way arrested the
thought,
Listening in breathless suspense, ! soon
found that the wheels were much nearer
than | supposed, the stealthness of the
approach alone having kept me from
hearing them. Before 1 had time to col
lect myself, close-coyered wagon stop
ped outside the wall, and | saw two men
get cautiously out Of it-one to open the
gate, and the other to lead the horse in.
The time, the place, the mysterious ap
! proach-eyerythng tended to agiate me,
and was on the point of taking to flight,
when the truth flashed upon me. Pro-
ceeding at once to the new-made grave,
the robbers, each with q spade from the
wagon, began forthwith to remove the
loose earth, with skill and rapidity
that proved beyond doubt their pro-
fessional character.
1t may be imagined with what pro-
found interest | watched their operations.
In less time than | had conceived ii pos
sibe the coffin was raised, and the body,
around which they threw a long cloak, +,
removed TO the wagon. The work of re-
filling the grave was soon done and
hardly an hour from the time they came
in the rascals were out Of the graveyard
and on their way h6meward. The wag-
on had no sooner turned from the gate
than | started TO follow il.
There was no moon, and the night was
dark but, luckily for me, the Williams
drove slowly, and, though at some dis
tauce behind the vehicle | never lost
sight Of il.
When about halfway back to the vii
lage we came to a stop and saw the
two men, to my great satisfaction, get out
at the door of public house, leaving,
meanwhile, the cart and its occupants
alone in the road.
just as the tavern door closed again ]
quickened my pace, and impelled by a
sudden inspiration, leaped forward and
into the cart
There bolt upright against the front
seat, sat the stolen corpse, a hat pulled
low down over the face, while the cloak
before mentioned completely enveloPed
the rest Of the figure.
Ny purpose was, first, 10 remove the
corpse, and then, having put on the cloak
and hat, to take it. place aud await what
might happen.
need not have hurried nay task az !
did, for the men took their time. When
they came out al last, il was evident that
they had been drinking freely inside /;
and saw with delight as they entered
the wagon that one had a bottle along
with him TO imbibe on the way. They
resumed their seats, one on each side OF
me, and we started again.