The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-02-23

ne was IN MS dry clothes than he had
been floating in the water. Then he
heard the bark of hounds. They were
on the waters edge, and he knew by the
sounds that they were endeavoring to
pick up the scent of his tracks.
Bark on" he said. when leave
this I'll take with me something to die
with. I'll not be taken alive, and if |
meet you some of you shall roll over. !"
Then there came an inexpressible
gratitude. He felt thankful to Souri,,
thankful to Jakey, thankful to Laura
Fain, thankful to his God. There was
something especially engaging in Miss
Fain's efforts on his behalf, inasmuch
as she regarded him an enemy to her
country. He thought Of Souri, in prison
waiting for old Triggs to discover her
deception. What would they do to her!
And Jakey? Would they injure mere
boys He vowed that if he should escape
and outlive the war he would find out
just what had happened, and if either
had been harshly treated he would have
his revenge.
Musing he fell asleep, but he soon
awoke. 1t was past midnight-tbe day
of his execution. He shuddered
He tried to go to sleep again, but the
dreadful fate which would have been
his had not Souri, saved him, and on the
very last evening before his. intended
execution, got into his head. and he
could not drive it out. And now, were
not men and hounds hunting him for
miles around, to drag him back to Chat
tanooga to that dreadful jailyard.. the
scafiold, the rope, the black cap?
And Laura Fain, suppose she should
weaken; suppose she should, after all,
consider it her duty to give him up:
suppose a demand should be made to
search the house; suppose-a thousand
suggestions chased each other through
his excited brain.
He lay tossing till just before dawn,
when he again fell into a troubled slum-
Der.
He was awakened by a squadron Of
cavalry passing along the road. The
sun had not yet risen, but it was light.
He could look right down ON them,
though they could not see him. They
trotted along slowly, all looking worn
and sleepy. They were evidently the
men who had passed the night before,
and were going back from an unsuccess-
full hunt. Mark noticed the different
positions many of them took in order to
rest in their saddles. The sight took
him back to his own troop, and he ionged
to be in the stirrups again with them.
There is no time like wakeful night
to magnify distress, and nothing like an
unclouded rising sun to drive it away.
Mark looked out on the stretch Of coun-
try to be seen from his window-the
Tennessee and the mountains beyond,
their tops tinged with yellow highland
was as unreasonably hopeful as he had
been respondent. His pleasurab)e SEN
satlons suddenly received new check.
An officer of the cavalry that had passed,
followed by two men, came riding back.
Maybe they were coming to the house.
They stopped at the gate. One Of the
men rode forward, dismounted and
opened it. The officer entered and rode
up to the front door,
Marks heart seemed to stop beating.
He could not see what was going on
below so close under his window, but
presently heard the officer talking to
some one On the veranda.
ga Federal spy escaped last night
from Chattanooga, madam. He was in
the disguise of negro girl" There was
something more which was unintelli-
gible.
Then Mark heard the word mo"
spoken in voice which he thought was
Mrs. FANS.
He was tracked to the river, which
he must have crossed. He probably
landed a mile or two below Chattanooga,
and we believe he is hiding somewhere
within a few miles of this place."
"YOu are welcome to- Mark could
not hear to what the officer was welcome,
but he surmised it was to search the
house.
"What time did you go to bed?'
The reply was inaudible.
"You saw nothing till then?'
"No, SIR
'And everything was shut up, at ten
o'clock
."Yes, SIR
"You are good Confederates, Ireckon. -
Eyes, sir; my SON. Mark could not
hear the rest, except the word army"
"Well, with you permission, madam,
we'll search The rest was Lost. In
deed Mark was too terror stricken to
listen with due care. He supposed the
house would be ransacked.
In q moment his terror was turned
to delicious sense of relief. The officer,
after calling to the men at the gate, rode
around to the negro quarters.
But there was danger. in the search
which would follow in the, cabins. Dan.