Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-03-03
CHAPTER III.


IL cleared Of trees, and the brush and
logs strewn about ON the uneven ground
mig BIZ be easily confused with my pros
tratE form in the uncertain moonlight.
Thi| possibility was my only hope, and
my heart beat like n trip hammer as one
Of the guards halted for moment On
the pos, nearest mc--so near that could
see is eyes, and. happily, the unconscious
exp |essiun Of his face. After lingering
for What seemed to be an age, he turned
and walked away. Working along with
the belp Of my elbows among the weeds,
| grb bdually got farther and farther from
camb until was able To creep and at
last no walk erect without fear. found
the heap Of brush where Lieutenant
ByeIs and had concealed our blankets
and lay down 10 await my companion.
About the time of the s o'clock relief,
the noon now shining brightly, l heard
the lepoIt Of rifles mt various points On
the sentry line, and then all was still
agaib. Perhaps my terminate had been
shot attempting TO join me. / had al
ready found time TO reflect. with amaze
ment, upon the recklessness Of my con-
duct and with gratitude upon my Won
derf bl escape | had little hope there
afte that Lieutenant Byers would join
me. but nevertheless lay still until
hear tho posting of the 10 o'clock re-
lief. | feared that there had been a
trag tdy in camp. but went away in
hap,|y ignorance Of the fact that two
youl Y officers had paid with their lives
for attempting the hazardous feat / had
accoh hplished.
look both blankets and one Of the
cups and moved out alone across the
opel fields in the direction Of the river,
inieb bding to carry ont the plan Lieuten-
ant byers ard had agreed npon. which
was Ito secure a boat NJ the first oppor-
tunity and float and paddle down the
ConlEaree river and o to the mouth OF
the Santee. journeying by night and
conc Ealing our craft in the swamps and
lagob bns during the day. The tall weeds
and grass we're heavy with the dew, and
I w,|s soon drenched to the waist. My
corrs 30 brought me to the Charleston
TURNPIKE. which l followed for short
distance in the direction Of Columbia
until | came TO covered bridge cross
ing he river.
There / took the right bank down
stream. There was we'll defined foot
path, bordered with bushes sparkling
witt moisture. Frequently l came upon
narr bw gullies cutting across the path
way which | crossed by log or swung
mysblf over by a grapevine. This far |
had seen no boat The bank was gradu-
ally growing higher above the river. Be
fore morning made camp upon a high
bluff, where / thought could safely
pass the day.
1t was a long. sunny day. and lay
fat ln the tall, dry grass listening &c
the sounds that came across the river
from the road along the other bank, and
Watching the hawks circling in the
cleat sky pursued and darted at by
small birds. Toward night two boys
brought drove Of cows TO drink i'll the
brink of the river opposite. About this
tim1 l crept through the grass to the
edge of the bluff, and far below me
saw "a small boat chained to the bank,
whith resolved to secure as soon as II
should be dark. Unfortunately the own
er came at early twilight and padded
awaE while l, instead Of waiting for
his i|eturn, proceeded along the shore in
searth of another boat.
Btfore going a mile the ground ad-
joining the liver became so boggy that
wJs forced to turn back. Thinking
that|I could take to the cornfields, skirt
the swamp and get back to the river
again, "a few miles below, set out with
thatbntention. Isoon came upon high
road which proved to be the Charleston
turnbike, the same l had crossed the
night before Seeing no opportunity to
get hearer to the river, followed this
road all night, content for the time be-
ino 10 get farther from Columbia Hav-
ing bo bread, filed my cup with she'll
ed dorm. and at the first signs OF day
retrdated into the woods and made my
secobd camp in a broken down tree top.
Befcre going to sleep on nest OF leaves
pull my corn to soak. ! had picked up
q sc,|ap Of newspaper in the night. which
I ca|refully preserved to help pass the
tim1 after awoke.
Although slept until we'll into the
Afternoon, I found it tedious waiting
into the evening for safe hour to take
the load again. To move was an ire
sistible temptation. dangerous to in
dule|e before o O'Clock. The white peo-
pie we're safe in bed by that hour. while
tho hegroes were whooping and singing
and Ehopping until the small hours OF
the lnorning. II by chance OF too early
startling heard voices ahead or the rat
tic e|f wheels Oh the road, / glided into
the bushes ut the side and watched the
aking vehicle pass in the gloom, the
belaEed passengers as unconscious Of my
neiqbborhood as the tired horse shut
fling in the sand.
bad been several nights on the road
wheb encountered the first negro, who
gave me loaf Of corn broad. at the same