The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-02-23


yet felt nervous, thinking they might
be surprised. and well knowing that by
this time their whereabouts and purpose
were known to the enemy, for at that
time every southern sympathizer within
our lines felt it to be his religious az
well as patriotic duty to play the spy for
his own side. On hearing my fears Lin
Moore said, with the quiet drawl tina,
distinguishes the southern mountaineer
even more than it does the New Eng.
land Yankee:
II reckon, capn, ez how yo' mont be
right. Now, do you uns think yo' knows
the road to the coal mines, leastwise
that you uns ken get thar, TO thar amt
no roady'
/ assured him that I had no doubt
about my ability to reach the point
named, or to get back with my men to
Sill's brigade, which had been advanced
before our departure in the direction of
Bridgeport. Then asked him why he
put this question. l recall his response
as If it were uttered minute ago:
"1f You uns ken get through, hit1l be
better TO me to light out and 90 hit
alone. / ken travel afoot ovah these
har hills better'n any critter that ever
wore hoofs, and eff SO be them Confeds
ken git ahead Of me or ketch me, I'll
give 'em leave to hang me and be id
to EN-"
/ felt that my six men and myself
could get through, though we might
have to kill our horses, loss which, un-
der the circumstances, was not worth q
consideration, but knew that the main
force could neither move so fast nor
hide SO readily. 1t did not take me long
to decide. 1 told Lin Moore what /
wished him to say to the officers, and
made him repeat it over twice. He
wanted me to write letter and to in.
trust the maps to his care. promising to
give them to General Sill or General
Mitchell, but though l had implicit
faith in him, knew that il he was taken
with such papers in his possession he
would be hanged as spy, and therefore
/ declined.
Five minutes after his proposition was
first made, Lin Moore, with his rifle on
his shoulder, was running down the
western slope Of Walden's ridge with
the long, tireless spring that no horse
could have kept up with for half day.
Before the guide was out of sight we
had resumed our march and kept stead
lily on till the middle of the afternoon.
We passed number of cabins and saw
an occasional mountaineer hoeing in his
corn patch, but refusing the signals to
stop for chat we made no halt till it
became necessary 20 feed our dripping
horses.
While the animals We're grazing, our
vigilance was not abated, but each man
took position from which he could
look out for the enemy, the orders being
to report any unusual sight or sound,
even if it did not indicate danger. With
my carbine thrown across my lap sat
down on an elevation to write up my
itinerary, but l had not been at it for
many minutes when was startled by
hearing quick breathing and the rapid
beating of unshod feet behind me.
Starting up with an alarm that would
have been slow to acknowledge at the
time, found myself face to face with
Hugh McNeil's Hen.
Hello, you thief!'' called out, and
l raised my carbine threateningly.
"Where are my glasses"
He rnuttered something / could not
understand and covered his eyes with
his big freckled hands, and l could see
that he was trembling. Ashamed of
myself, lowered the piece and slung it
at my back. Looking through his fin
gers, the idiot saw this, and with cry
of JOY that suggested the pleased bark
ing of dog, he reached out his hand in
greeting and took it.
On the instant Hugh McNeil's Hen
laid on the ground his harmless old
musket and his battered knapsack
When he began to open the latter bent
over him, for felt sure that the glasses
would be discovered there, but no, there
was nothing in it but the scraps of cloth
and the pieces of quartz crystal had
noticed there in the morning, but from
the depths he fished out two newspapers
and held them up while he laughed and
skipped about in great glee.
The papers proved to be old copies Of
the Memphis Appeal and the Cincinnati
Enquirer. neither of any use except as
they illustrated the unity Of feeling that
existed at that time between those people
north and south who were most bitterly
opposed to the methods of President
Lincoln. Ii was evident that Hugh
McNeirs Hen had been in some Confed-
crate camp. and quite possible that he
had exchanged my glasses for the papers,
thinking to please myself or Lin Moore.
or perhaps TO secure another reward.
Been to Chattanooga ] asked. and
shouted my words as if he were deaf
and motioned to the east
Yes. yea. Over dar. Right smart
grays. Whar's Linz" and he pushed
back his matted hair. again revealing
the scar. and looked eagerly about him.
Gone" replied.
''Nevah come backr
oh, yes: hope So"
Where Lin go9"
Il can't say"
Having no more use for this strange
creature, gave the order to saddle up,
and within few minutes we were
again on the march. Hugh McNeil's
Hen was not 30 easily shook off. He
motioned that he wanted to sit in the
vacant saddle. but shook my head and
motioned him away Not at all dis
couraged however. he strobe ahead
with tireless swing that envied.
] felt there was no danger in the
fellows presence, yet 1t made me uneasy
and wanted to be rid OF him. | was
on the point of calling him to me and
telling him rs best ! could that Lin