Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-12-22
CHATTANOOGA.

Ii "Ihe flrst chance we get. Jakey, Wen
take to the woods. We told them we
were going to Chattanooga, and if this
officer takes it into his aristocratic head
to escort rs with true southern polite
ness part Of the way he'll expect to find
us on the Chattanooga pike"
IN twouldn't be perlite fo' ter git in
his way
They had gone but trifiing distance
when they came to creek flowing--as
a wayfarer they met told them-through
Moccasin gap. The road crossed it by
something between hedge and cul-
vert. Mark led the way from the road
up the creek and began to climb the
hills, on which there was sufficient
growth of timber to afford concealment.
For an hour he trudged along with
Jakey beside him. He tried to get the
boy to give him his hand to help him
along. but Jaley demurred Indignantly
and kept his sturdy little legs so well at
work that he never once fell behind his
companion.
At last they came to hut occupied
by an old negro
Good morning uncle" said Mark.
"Mornen. sab"
"Hey y seen anything of colored
boy bout eighteen years old go by hyar
this mornen?"
mo, sab"
He's my boy Sam, and I'm a-hunten
him, He run away last night. He'll git
a hundred eff ketch him"
II amt saw him, sab. N tell yo' what,
marst'r, eff had saw him wouldn't in
form 20 OBJ de fac
"Thet's the way with you niggers,
since the Yankees turned your heads.
But it won't last long Our boysll
drive 'em so fur moth pretty soon that
you darkiesll hev to stoprunnen away"
Now don yo' believe dat so sarten."
DO you really believe the Yanks can
whip usy'
DE Lo'd hes sent 'em to tote his col
ored people out o bondage"
Mark was satisfied with this prelim-
mary examination that he could trust
the old man
Uncle. I'm no secesh. I'm Union
man. ! want to stay with you today
and travel tonight. Keep me all day,
and I'll go away as soon as it is dark"
'Fo' de Lod. | knowed yo' want no
south'n man all de time
How
'Yo amt got de south'n man way o.
taken. Yo' did hit well enough, but yo'
CANT fool me
well. will you keep u.s."
Reckon / will"
What's your nameT'
"Randolph's my name, sab. Jeffson
Randolph. My marst'r said he glib me
mighty big name, but hit didn't do no
good Dey always call me notten but
JEFF.
You're as well off as the president of
the Confederacy in that respect" said
Mark "A guess wen go inside"
| Yes. 20 in dar Keep dark"
Mark and Jakey waited for the day to
pass, and rs they had no means of anus
ing themselves it passed very slowly.
| Jakey played about the creek for awhile,
but both were glad when the darkness
came and they could get away
Before setting out on his expedition
Mark had carefully studied map of
the region, preferring to fix it in his
mind than to carry it about his person.
Upon leaving jefferson Randolph's hut
he made direct for the Tennessee river.
Once there, he knew from his remem-
brance Of the map that he was not far
from Chattanooga, and that between
him aud that place was Moccasin point,
formed by bend, or rather loop, in the
river the point putting out southwark
for more than two miles, with a dis
lance of nearly mile across its neck.
But he knew the ground was high on
did not know the proper place to strike
inland and cut Off the distance around
the rivers margin There was no one
near to inform him. so he kept on by the
river
Z 1t was late at night when they reached
point where the river took a slight
turn to the east, and about a mile from
the quick bend around Moccasin point.
Marx was anxious to enter Chattanooga
either late at night or soon after day
light. hoping to meet few people, that
his entrance might not be noticed. He
cast his eye about for some means of
crossing the river. Noticing skiff
moored just below hut, he surmised
that the skiff belonged to some one liv-
ing in the hut. Going to the door he
knocked
Who's thar?
DO you uns own the skiff on the river
below hyarf"
WAL, supposen does:"
Il want to cross.
what d y want ter do tibet fur at
this time O night
Father dyen. Just got word a spell
ago.
"What'll y give ter get OVER
Five dollars"
what kind o shinplasters?"
Green backs"