Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-11-11

/ WELL 4 III SOiHS 10 nave tOOh AZ tue
old shanty," said VIII. rising from the
sand. His companion did not venture
to follow him in the expedition.
The river had year by year added 70
the strip of land, and the old iatboat
was now nearly hidden by the under
brush that had grown up between it and
the water The low hut which had once
been the boats cabin was still standing
amid the decayed timbers of the hull,
snd Win noticed with surprise that there
were traces of something like footprints
leading to it.
Nevertheless he stepped quite unsus-
piciously over the doorway. Once fairly
within he felt himself roughly grasped
by the arms from behind.
"You make noise to call that boy"
said a voice close to his ears, "and I'll
kill YOU! | tell you | will never be taken
prisoner!''
The person who had seized him now
faced him, still holding him by the
arms. Will saw youth scarcely older
than himself dressed in worn gray uni
form. His grip was like steel. but his
ldit was ~ llhAIth althnh anu LIS
eyes so desperately miserable that the
heart of his captive warmed to him.
Recovering his composure a little,
after his first astonishment and alarm,
VIII said, with an effort to laugh: Let
me go I'm the only prisoner there's
likely to be. I'm not after you. was
only looking for a ghost
.sXUl, o,.a .ro,,e I lr,,nx,~ oil H. la,..
over there, and know you are Yankee
by your cap and your voice. | tell you
| can't be taken"
"See here. said win, "Tm only boy
like you, and though I'm a soldiers soa,
and don't deny either my voice or my
cap, | don't want to harm you at all.
What is up, anyway, and why are you
playing spook on this strip of sand;"
1T is all mp now, suppose, and may
as we'll tell you all about it. Have you
got a mother: see by your face You
haven't; so perhaps you will be sorry for
a poor fellow who is going to lose his.
My name is John Prescott, and over
there in that white house below your
fort my mother is dying. and | am try
ing to see her once more if she isn't gone
already.
Il got two weeks furlough-you
needn't stare, I've been in the army
nearly year-and slipped down the
river two days ago. Unfortunately for
me | made this point too near daylight
yesterday morning to venture any far
ther knew the reputation this place
has among the negroes, and thought it
safe TO wait here until night. reckon
was too tired and sleepy and didn't
make it fast. and the boat managed to
slip away while was looking for good
place TO drag it up among the bushes.
Here | have been ever since, like
rat in trap. have watched the house
over there for two days, and have even
seen the family on the terraces and dared !
not make a signal Now, sir, what are
you go ng TO do about ity'
lin going to do this, a" said Will, hold |
ing out his hand. TIN going to say |
believe every word You say, and | want |
you to trust me to help you out of this
scrape. lost my mother not six months /
ago. and do know how to feel for Won,
if we are on opposite sides. happened |
to hear today that your mother is no
worse Maybe you'll see her more than
this once
BAT how can | get overy'
Il don't see quite clearly how to do it, |
but I'll get you over there before day |
break somehow. You must give me |
YOU word to go away when the time is
up. Now | must go, or that boys curl
osity will be enough to overcome his
fears, and he'll come to look me up. /
know you're hungry, so take my lunch.
Keep a sharp lookout after dark"
The numbering skiff carried very |
silent passenger back across the river.
George ventured to inquire if VIII had /
"seed de ghos' and was answered so
gravely in the affirmative that he then
and there laid the foundations for sew
eral marvellous tales with which to as
tonish future audiences.
viii knew quite well that the thing he
had in mind to do was a very delicate
and difficult thing to undertake That
he, the trusted son of the commander,
should attempt to smuggle an enemy
liAolAlE tAAI mus was AAO AA7hA AAAtNANNAs
The thought of it rested not lightly on
his conscience, but a refusal to aid the
poor fellow on the island to see his dy-
ing mother would have rested more
heavily still.
At any rate he meant to do it, and
by the time the skiff touched bottom at
her landing his plan was formed. Max
ing a careful survey Of the landing, and
noting the shortest route out to the
open water, he dismissed his companion
without ceremony. A few minutes
walk brought him to the big white gate
of 1.-THE Garden" He summoned up all
his courage and dignity and marched
through the magnolia avenue.
His appearance was greeted with
that was far from pleas
ing. His request to see Miss Prescott
in private for a few moments seemed to
freeze with terror the black maid in