The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-17

IT was one-sided affair, however, for we
listened in silence, except now and then to
put in word as clincher to some red-hot
assertion they made.
After the Captain and old woman had
both exhausted their vocabulary of words
pretty well, we told the Captain that we
hoped it would not be long until he would
find it convenient to call upon us for our
services in the cause. He seemed much
pleased at the favorable effect bis eloquent
harangue had worked upon us, and as we
hastily shook hands with him preparatory
to leaving, he handed us back our revolvers,
which he had previously taken from US.
This we considered a lucky escape and we
started off in fine spirits after the depressing
uncertainty occasioned by this capture. 1t
was not long until we were again in the
mountains where we soon after found place
of safety, where we rested and slept till near
night
After we awoke we talked over the situa-
ton What we desired was to get across
the wide. thickly-settled valley to the river
and find a boat. How to do it and evade
capture was what concerned us most just
now. If, BIZ streak of bad luck, we should
again fall into the hands of old Snow or his
crowd, we would fare hard, for we had
In this state of perplexity we decided to
trust ourselves in the hands Of the man
and woman who had treated us so kindly
and professed so much devotion to the Union
cause. We knew that if the man was true
as he professed to be, that he could render
us the assistance we so much needed. We
had reason to believe, too, that he and his
wife were just what they prOtessed-truly
loyal people to our cause. We knew, how
ever that if we ventured near this house that
we must do it with great caution, otherwise
we might be discovered. and thus not only
be captured, but compromise our good, kind
friends.
SEEKING FOR FRIENDS.
IT was, therefore, late on Thursday even
ing, when, having left Wood a few PAGES
from the house to keep a lookout, went
noiselessly 10 the door and knocked. The
family had retired and the house was still
as death. / knocked again and again, but
finally heard the woman tell her husband
there was someone at the door. Soon the
man opened the door and seemed to know
me at the first glance or by the sound of my
voice. He spoke TO me kindly and invited
me in.
While he was speaking to me observed
from some indications l could distinctly see
that his wife stood nearby to kill me in
stantly in case any sign of foul-play had
been noticed. Those were times in Tennes-
see and northern Georgia, and other places
In the South, when some shocking tragedies
took place. Men were hunted aud shot
down in their own doorgards and homes for
their loyalty to the old flag, aud these per-
secuted, hunted people were general ready
for the worst and generally defended them
selves to the death. In this defense the
women often took a ready hand.
The woman l am now speaking of would
have been dangerous one for any rebel to
have attacked if she had been given the
least warning or had half chance. 1t need
then be no matter OF surprise that she held
cooked rifle on me as / stood near the door,
ready, on the least suspicious movement on
my part. to drop me in my tracks.
/ told the man / would like to
speak few words with him privately.
lie stepped a few PAGES from the door,
SO that we were sure no person was in
hearing distance. l then, in low tone of
voice, asked him if he could, of his own free,
voluntary will, assist Union man in dis
tress if he had the opportunity. / then
paused and watched him intently, and
az once noticed that he was embarrassed
He acted like man who suspected some
trick-as if he thought had been sent to
entrap him for the purpose of betraying his
loyalty. / was assured by his actions; for
had he been a rebel and had wished to en-