Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-29

"Whar mought / git onep asked |
Mark.
cat headquarters, reckon"
Mark turned away. He considered !
the expedienoy of going to headquarters
and asking for pass, but regarded this !
course fraught with too much risk. He
determined to make an attempt to get
out of town and across the river by the
route over which he had entered. lie
knew the ground by this route, and that
was a great advantage. If he could
steal his way beyond the picket he could
doubtless find method Of crossing
Perhaps he might make his way down
the river and across at Shell mound, or,
still lower, to the mouth of Battle creek,
held by the Union forces.
Mark skirted the town on the west, and
then took course directly south till he
came to the railroad. This he followed
to a point near where he had bivouacked
the night before. Crawling to a rise in
the ground and motioning Jakey to
keep back, he laid down on his stomach
to make a survey.
1t was nearly dark. Silhouettes Of
figures were passing between him and q
campfire beside the railroad track. Be-
You'd, the palisades OF Lookout noun
tain stood out boldly against q streak of
twilight in the west. Between the track
and the river was an open space, over
which lie must pass to get by the picket.
The river bank would afford some pro-
lection. Near where he was it was steep,
and the current set directly against it,
but lower down by the picket there APP
peared to DO places where Il man could
walk under the low bluff.
The moon was about three-Quarters
| full, and the night was clear except for
clouds that would float lazily over
Lookout mountain and across the moons
face, so that at times her light was part
ly obscured. Mark thought of waiting
till she had set, but this would not be
! till after daylight. He made up his
mind to make the attempt at once.
Calling Jakey he gave him an account
of what he intended to try for, and told
him that if it should be necessary to run
under fire the boy was to lie down, and,
if necessary, give himself up but on no
account to risl; being shot. Jakey only
| half promised, and Mark was obliged to
be satisfied with Ihs. Then waiting
for a little while longer for tho twilight
| to entirely disappear and cloud to OBJ
scure the moon, he lay on the ground
| gathering his forces and getting mis-
/ mind into that cool state req~islte for
! one who is about to make a very haz-
ardous attempt,
Presently the conditions We're favora-
bic, and he got up and led the way to the
river bank, which he proposed to skirt
He left his bundle, but took Jakey's gun,
loaded and capped, in his hand. They
soon gained the point where they had
landed the night before-nearly opposite
where Mark had seen the silhOuettes on
the railroad. Treading as noiseessly as
possible, they passed along the river mar
gin under the overhanging bank till
they came to place where the bank
was low. STOPPING, they proceeded for
y short distance till they reached the
root Of tree that had been felled long
before Here they paused and listened.
Suddenly they heard what sounded
like Il musket brought from shoulder
down to the hollow OF a hand, and Il
voice:
"Who comes thar
"Corporal Of the guard, with relief"
advance, corporal and give the coun-
terai%n."
Then there was some mutteriug and
footsteps tramping away.
Mark peepcd between the roots Of the
stump toward the point from which the
souni Is had come. He saw, not a hundred
feet away, d man sitting on Il log with
his musket resting against his shoulder
the butt on the ground. He wa, looking
hstlesslv up at the Sky. Presently he
took Il clay Iipc out of his pocket, whicl
he filled, ana touching amatch lightedi it
He's the river picket" said Mark t
himself.
The sentinel sat smoking while Mari
meditated. His first thought was, VIII!
did | bring this boy? The situation wa
perilous enough WITHOUT an encum
brauce. The guard YVES facing the spac
over which they would have to pass t
escape; there might be a slight chanc
for life to make n dash were he alone
but with the boy it was not to be though
of, and Mark was unwilling TO leav
him. He looked back with "A view to Re
tracing the route over which he ha
come Hew Mortified to see sentine
pacing hundred yards above. He ha
been placed there by the relief.
The only hope was to wait for the ma
nearest him to relax his watchfulnes,
and attempt to pass him. The sentine
up the river was not to be feared excel
by going back, for from the nature q
the ground the fugitives would be hid
den from him if they should go forward
Mark resolved to wait and watch.
The minutes seemed hours, the hour
days The soldier still sat on the log
though now and then he would get VI
and leaving his lnusket leaning on
saunter back and forth Oh his beat. Ii
we'll knew there was TO enemy to feal
his duty was little more than form.
lie began to hum few strains of 9TH
Suwanee River"
Poor devil" said Mark to himsel