The National tribune., 1897-08-19
CHAPTER NH.

Racing for Life-Crossing the Line of Rebel
Guards--Striking 0ut for the Gulf-Our
Appearance against Us-Hiding from the
Sight OF Man.
was on my feet in an instant. not know
ing whether my thigh was shattered or not.
AS / ran, / clapped my hand there TO see il
it bled freely. | paiied away lot OF
splinters, and had the satisfaction Of finding
that | had received only a slight flesh
wound made by the picket sp.inteIs. Never
did / make better use Of nay legs. There
was need of ii, too. FOR the balls were spat-
ting about us in the dirt uncomiortab!y
near They came so thick and closely al
one time that was almost certain ihat one
or both of Us would be hat but we answered
their cries Of HALT, halt BY springing
forward with ali the speed We could COM
mand.
After having run a long distance in our
flight, we passed Buifum, who bad lost his
hat in the attack, and Row, bareDeaded and
= with his eyes fairly starting out Of his head
with exertion, the poor fellow loOked the
very picture of Wild man.
Meod had fallen behind me in the race
aud / could hear Buffam cheering and urg-
ing him to pail into is y for dear life. 8
scan'r ran, but can stop them, Run, Wood
Keep on running, and never let uptH Thus
the brave fellow, completely tagged out, en-
couraged MY partner, who Still felt and
showed the effects OF his sickness. / was
far enough ahead so that had time to select
The most favorable course for rs to take 10
save distance aud find the shelter of woods
or thickets.
IL was about a mile before we struck the
cover Of woods, and then Tie trees were sc
scattering that they afforded cnly a doubt
ful place for concealment- It was now every
man Tor himself, aud We longed for darkness
or some other friendly interposi;ion in our
behalf. Wood had come up with me, and
we lodged stealiLily from one thicket &c
another until il began 10 grow quite dark
when We breathed easier and acted more de-
libeIately, although we we'll knew that we
: were not out OF dagger yet.
About this time we became aware that we
were approaching 4 public road. We sOoI
had warning that il was much better te
halt and not attempt to cross the road. The
sound OF cailopiDg borsemen IN great rum
befs aud iiie clanking of sabers could hC
heard near by. We were SO nearly out o.
breaih that we could run no farther for the
present, and, on locking hastily about, We
discovered low. fcrnbby pine bush sur
rounded with shrubbery.
We both dafted under its protecting
shelter and lay fat on the ground on orl
faces, neither having spoken a word TO TIA,
atber for some minutes. on account OF oni
great exhaustion. We were so near the road
that we could plainly see all the movement.
OF the rebel cavalry, who were deployinl
their line something in the manner o
skirmishers.
This presented an unexpected difficulty
In ou- way. If We had reached The road
two minutes sooner, we might have crossed
without being seen, but We colid no. have
been there an instant sooner tlan we were
unle:vs We had had wings, for we had boil
run until we were ready to fall ia Or ira, rs
We had become separated from In. rest G
the party, but We could still hear the report
OF muskets, and knew that thu pursuit wa
still going on, but how many of the escap
ing party had been killed was beyond oul
knowledge, though ] had seen Capt Fry
Teellng and stumbling ]; manner that lee
me TO fear he was shot. We were thus com
PEELED 10 lie quietly for some time. Whill
we were waiting here, the cayalTy'was &c
lleyed by Infantry, and the cavalry, as sooI
as relieved, formed into squads anG Slartet
TO scoUr the woods.
Tie place where We lay was not over /,
steps from where the infantry sentinel wa
stationed We could hear every word h
spoke TO the man on the neAt post T4ei
comments on the affair at the Jail woul,
have been amusing 10 us under less seriou
circumstances, and / wish | could give the
words exactly now, for they were ludicrou
enough. Ia their opinion there vas no scr
Of deyilment that Yanl was not "A
adept IN, from stealing niger o. a rail
road TO breaking a jail, murdc~ipg pe1ceiu
citizens, and in various other ways deiyiEt
the regulations and rights of the Southern
people. They allowed that Old Michel har
picked out the off-scourings and most reclz
less jail-hreakers and picli-pockets in hi
arms TO send out on this thieyimg business
and that if any of The Raiders were caugh
there would be 10 more foolish delay abou
hanging them.
Sometime late in the evening, while W
were still lying under the bush. We becam
aware that someone was approaching "A
very quietly. 10 the dark we could recop
nlze the dim outlines Of two men, aud W
felt certain, as they came SO near us th.t w
could have almost touched them, that il wa
two of our comrades; but we dare not ,e
whisper TO them lest we should cause tnef
30 beuay themselves, and, perhaps, us ,oa