Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1893-01-11
CHAPTER VIII.
PASSING A PICKET.

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He turned to look ut the sentinel.
Going down to the ferryboat they
found boat which had all it could do
to carry the soldiers and citizens who
were crossing. Mark thought he would
try what assurance would do in getting
across without a pass. He found the
guard more watchful than he expected.
"Can't y pass me n my leetle brother,
lieutenant" he asked. "We BEN dozen
some traden in Chattanoogy and want
ter git home. We ben buyen some cal
iker for the women folks"
"Old Bragg himself couldn't go over
without pass" responded the officer.
"Whar mought ! git one?. asked
Mark.
"At headquarters, reckon"
Mark turned away. He considered
the expediency 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. He
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 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.
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 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.
It was nearly dark. Silhouettes Of
figures were passing between him and
campfire beside the railroad track. Be-
yond, the p&issdes of Lookout noun
tain stood od< 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 it,
but lower down by the picket there ap-
peared to be places where man could
walk under tue low Lluf.
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, bat 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 mp, but on no
account to risk being shot Jakey only
half promised, and Mark was obliged to
be satisfied with this. Then, waiting
for little while longer for the twilight
to entirely disappear and a 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 is about to make very haz-
ardous 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' 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
gin under the overhanging bank till
they came to place where the bank
was low. STOPPING, they proceeded for
a 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 a musket brought from shoulder
down to the hollow Of hand, and
voice:
"Who comes thar"
Corporal of the guard, with relief"
Advance. corporal. and give the coun-
tersign."
Then there was some muttering and
footsteps tramping away.
Mark peeped between the roots of the
stump toward the point from which the
sounds had come. He saw, not hundred
feet away, man sitting on log with
mis- 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
be filed, and touching match lightedit.
"He's the river picket" said Mark to
himself.
The sentinel sat smoking while Mark
meditated. His first thought was, Why
did l bring this boy? 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 to re-
tracing the route over which he had
come. He was Mortified to see sentinel
pacing hundred yards above. He had
been placed there by the relief.
The only hope was to wait for the man
nearest him to relax his watchfulness,
and attempt to pass him. The sentinel
up the river was not to he feared except
by going back. for from the nature of
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 hours
days. The soldier still sat on the log.
though now and then he would get up,
and leaving his musket leaning on it
saunter back and forth on his beat. He
we'll knew there was no enemy to fear;
his duty was little more than form.
He began to hum few strains of "The
Suwanee River"
"Poor devil" said Mark to himself.