Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-01-05

ing tor, SAID an OlnCer seated In the
stern.
who are you looking for?" asked
Mark, with as much GOODNESS as he could
assume.
"Deserters from the til Tennes-
SEQ.
Mark knew it was all up with him.
His assumption of being on General
Bragg's staff, which had been so sue
cessful ruse, suddenly appeared to him
a halter about his neck.
Hand over your guns" said the Off
Ger.
The guns were handed into the boat,
all except Jakey's shotgun.
That other one too"
That's only shotgun, captain" said
Mark.
We'll, never mind the popgun."
Every moment tho deserters looked
for Mark to declare his exalted position
on General Bragg's staff, but no such
declaration came. 1t seemed possible to
them that perhaps he would not wish to
disclose his identity to SO many. At any
rate they said nothing. Had itnot been
for his assumption Mark would have
applied to the captain to let q poor coun-
tryman and his little brother pass. Had
he done so it is quite possible that the
men he had deceived, surmising that he
was refugee like themselves, would
not have betrayed him; but Mark knew
that besides this danger the officers, hav-
ing found him in such company, would
not let him 60
Marks heart was heavy as the boat
in which he sat was pulled slowly
against the current to Chattanooga. He
realized that there was now no oppor-
/ tunity for his wits, on which he usually
relied, to work. He was in the hands
of the enemy; he would not be released
without thorough questioning, and he
could say nothing that would not tell
against him.
On landing all were taken to the pro-
vost marshals Office. The soldiers &C
knowledged that they We're members of
/ the-th Tennessee regiment, but stout
! ly denied that they were deserters. They
were Union men, some of the northern
ers who had been impressed into the
Confederate service, or had enlisted for
the purpose Of flying to the stars and
stripes as soon az they could get near
enough to warrant an attempt. They
We're sent to their regiment under guard.
AS they were leaving one of them said
to Mark:
IL hope you'll keep your promise"
Mark did not reply; he had cherished
a hope that they would be taken away
before anything would come out as to
his assumption Of authority.
What promise:" asked the provost
marshal quickly.
He's an officer on General Bragg's
staff. You ought to know him, colonel"
The devil!' exclaimed the colonel.
"Oh, | saw the men were doing some
/ thing they We're ashamed Of, and blulfed
{ 'eln to row me across" said Mark with
assumed carelessness.
"Who are your"
81 belong in east Tennessee"
you don't belong to any such place.
You're not southern born at all. You're
Yankee. | thought you were only
trying 10 get north with these men; now
! believe you are spy"
I'm southern man, sarten," said
Mark, with such GOODNESS that the officer
was for moment in doubt as to his sur
mise.
Let me hear you say New York"
New York"
New York, repeated the colonel iron
ically. IF you were a southern man
you'd say New Yawk. shall have to
hold you for further information"
Il would like to go to my home in
Tennessee. | came here to buy gun
for my brother. But if you won't let
:ae Ill have to stGy with you, sup
| pose. Only hope you wont separate
us Jakey's very young, and don't
want to turn him adrift alone in
| strange town"
II shall have to hold you till can re-
port the case TO headquarters" said the
officer, and Mari, ard Jakey were led
away to room in tho house occupied
by tho provost marshal for prisoners
temporarily passing through his hands.
| The reply that came to the announce
rnent of the capture Of the citizen and
the boy was to hold them under vigilant
| guard. 1t was reported that Mark had
been personating an officer of the staff
and this looked very suspicious; indeed
quite enough so to warrant their TRYING
| him for spy by drumhead court mar
tial and executing him the next morning.
Mark was searched and everything Of
value taken from him. They went
through Jakeys pockets and felt of the
lining Of his coat, but as he was u child
the search was not very thorough, or
they would have found the bills in his
boot. They took his gun, but by this
time Jakey realized that there WAS some
thing more momentous than a squirrel
gun az stake, and parted with it without
showing any great reluctance. He real
lied that Mark, for whom he had by
this time conceived Il regard little short
of idolatry, was in danger, and tho boy
for the first time began to feel that his
freud could not accomplish everything.
Jakey stood looking on stolidly as Mark
was searched till he saw soldier take