The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-02-02
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ft w. nearly dark. Silhouettes of
figures wsre passing between him and a
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 it,
but lower down by the picket there ap-
peared to be places where man could
walk under the low bluff. 4
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, but 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 up, 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 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'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
gin under the overhanging bank till
they came to a place where the bank
was low. STOPPING, they proceeded for
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 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 a hundred
feet away, a man sitting on log with
his musket resting against his shoulder,
the butt on the ground. He was looking
Gstlessly up at the sky. Presently he
took a clay pipe out OF his pocket, which
he 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 / 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 Marx was unwilling to leave
him. He looked back witha view to re-
tracing the route, over. which he had
como. He was horrifed to see sentinel
paeingo hundred ysrds above. He had
besn placed there By tho relief. :2
The only hope was to wait for the man:
nearest him I'd relax bis watchfulaess,
and attempt to paa him. Tho sentinel
up the river was not 50 b feared except
BY going hack, for from the nature Of
the ground the fu9itives would b hid