Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-05-16

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nc turned 10 look at the sentinel
Going down to the ferryboat they
found boat which had all 1t could d.
to carry the soldiers and citizens wht
were crossing. Mark thought he would
try what assurance would do In getting
across without pass He found tn,
guard more watchful than he expected
"Can't y pass me n my leetle brother
lieutenanty' he asked. 1--WE ben doer
some traden In Chattanoogy and want
ter git home. We ben buyen some cal
iker for the women folks"
"Old Bragg himself couldn't 20 owe,
without q pass" responded the officer.
"Whar mought git oneY' asked
Mark.
"At headquarters, reckon"
Mark turned away. He considered
the expediency Of going to headquarter,
and asking for pass, but regarded thii
course fraught with too much risk. He
determined to make an attempt to gel
out Of town and across the river by the
route over which no had entered. He
knew the ground by this route, and that
was great advantage. II he could
steal his way beyond the picket he could
doubtless find q 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.
l..ll Ia, th, If,tn,, fo~,o.
Mark skirted the town on the west. and
then took a course directly south till he
came to the railroad. This he followed
to point near where he had bivouacked
the night before. Crawling to . rise In
the ground and motioning Jakey to
keep back, he laid down on his stomach
to make survey.
II was nearly dark. Silhouettes Of
figures were passing between him and q
campfire beside the railroad track. Be.
yond. the palisades Of Lookout noun.
tain stood out boldly against streak Of
twilight In the west. Between the track
and the river was an open space, over
which he 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 Il,
but lower down by the picket there ap.
peared to be places where man could
walk under the low bluff.
The moon was about three-Quarters
full. and the night was clear except for
clouds that would foat laxily over
Lookout mountain and across the moons
face, 90 that ut 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 biz
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 II II should be necessary to run
under tire the boy was to lie down, and,
II necessary, give himself up, but on no
account to risk being shot. Jakey only
half promised. and Mark was obliged to
DO satisfied with this. Then. waiting
for little while longer for the twilight
to entirely disappear and cloud to OBJ
scure the moon, he lay on the ground
gathering his forces and getting his
mind into that cool state requisite for
one who Il about to make q very hax.
srdous attempt
Presently the conditions were favora-
BILE. 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 noiselessly as
possible, they passed along the river mar.
I,in under the overhsnging bank till
they came to a place where the bank
WAS low. STOPPING, they proceeded for
= short distance till they reached the
root Of Q tree that had been felled long
before. Here they paused and listened.
Suddenly they heard what sounded
like q musket brought from shoulder
down TO the hollow Of . hand, and .
voice:
"Who comes thar
Corporal Of the guard, with relief"
"Advancs. corporal. and give the ooun-
tersign."
Then there was some muttering and
tramping away.
Mark peeped between the roots Of the
stump toward the point from which the
sounds had come. He saw. not q hundred
Ieet away. man sitting on = log with
bis musket resting against his shoulder,
the butt on the ground. He was looking
listlessly up at the sky. Presently he
took clay pipe out OF his pocket, which
he filed. and touching match lightedit.
"Hes the river picket" said Mark to
The sentinel sat smoking while Mark
meditated. His fisst thought was, Why
did I bring this boy7 The situation was
perilous enough without an encum-
brance. The guard was facing the space
over which they would have to pass TO
escape; there might be slight chance
for life to make dash were he alone,
but with the boy It was not to be thought
Of, and Mark was unwilling TO leave
him. He looked back with view tore
tracing the route over which he had
come. he was Mortified to zee sentinel
pacing . hundred yards above. Hs had
been placed there by the relief.
The only hope was to walt tor the man
nearest him to relax his watchfulness,
and attempt to pass him. The sentinel
up the river was not TO be feared except
by going back, for from the nature OF
the ground the fugitives would b hid
den from him u they should 20 forward
Mark resolved to wait and watch.
The minutes seemed hours. the hours
dsys. The soldier still sat on the log.
though now and then hs would get up,
and leaving his musket leaning on u
ssunter back and forth on his beat Hs
we'll knew there was no enemy TO fear;
bis duty was little more than form.
He began TO hum few strains OF "Ths
6uwsnss River"
ssPoor devil" aid Mafk 10 himself,
.shs, TOO, q thinking Of home. What .
cured thing war si II ever get out a
thA III dope nees snch duty. 0irs ~