Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-03-13

| said George. ''Hit'S haunted. ole
fatboat man useter live up in yander.
where you sees dat black spot mon'st de
trees. De ole boat washed agroun one
night in high water, an de old man neb-
| Der made no monst'o Gus tempt fer to git
out He was onsociable like, an liked
hisse'f mighty well. He live yer kinder
quiet, an folks done got de notion dat
| he hab heaps err money. An one night
somebody done kill i'm an TUX all he
he'd. Since dat time his ghos' done
walk dis Towhead. Only jes' yisterd'y
| Unc' Jake lowed he done seen dat ole
ghos an be lowed he gwine come yer
no mol 1 aim had much 'pin1on er Uno
| Jake lately, but TIE jes' about as nigh
dat ole boat as keers to CO.
"Well, I'm going to have a look at the
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 to
the strip of land, and the old 11atboat
was now nearly hidden by the under
brush that bad 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,
end Will 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.
'sYOu make a noise to call that boy
said a voice close to his ears, land III
kill you! tell you / will never be taken
prisoner!''
The person who had seized him now
faced him. still holding him by the
arms. VIII saw youth scarcely older
than himself dressed in worn gray uni
form. His grip was like steel, but his
face was so pinched and drawn and his
eyes so desperately miserable that the
heart of his captive warmed to him.
Recovering his composure a little,
after his first astonishment and alarm,
Will said, with an effort to laugh: s'Let
me go! I'm the only prisoner there's
likely to be. I'm not after you. was
only looking for a ghost.
"Who are you? | know all the boys
over there. and | know you are q Yankee
by your cap and your voice. | tell you
| can't be taken.
'.See here" said Will, I'm only boy
like you and though I'm soldiers son.
and | don't deny either my voice or my
can. 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 up now, l suppose, and | may
as we'll tell you all about it. Have you
got mother? | see by your face you
haven't; SO perhaps you will be sorry for
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.
81 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 a trap. have watched the house
over there for two days, and have even
seen the family on the terraces and dared
not make signal! Now, sir, what are
you going to do about it?'
I'm going to do this said Will, hold
ing out his hand. I'm going to say |
believe every word you say, and | want
you to trust me to help you out Of this
scrape. l lost my mother not six months
ago. and do know how to feel for you.
if we are Oh opposite sides. happened
to hear today that your mother is no
worse. Maybe you'll see her more than
this once
'sB-7t how can | get over?'
81 don't see quite clearly how to do it,
but I'll get you over there before day
break somehow. You must give me
youI word to go away when the time is
up. Now i 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 assharp lookout after dark"
The numbering skiff carried a very
silent passenger back across the river.
George ventured to inquire If Will 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.
Will 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
inside the lines was no light matter. |