The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-03-16

enemy and were marching % camp
again, when the lieutenant thought
he'd see what was in a house over on
our right When We arrived al the
house We found no one at home but
an old woman. two young girls. and
half dozen female slaves. We dis
mounted and asked for something 10
eat There wasn't a mouthful Of any
thing In the house. the women were
fed By a son-in-law over by Port Con
way. There wasn't a horse or other
animal TO be seen about the whole
place
Are there no men about?" asked
the lieutenant.
Not one. replied the lady with dig
nifty. They are all In the confederate
army. II you are after them you'll
have 20 20 where they are to find them
Thanks laughlngly replied the
lieutenant, we have no particular wish
70 90 on the other side Of the river at
present
Perhaps you may CO. said ;he
lady. without any desire
We mounted and were soon on our
way 20 Port Conway distant about six
miles. AZ We rode along ! thought
over what the lady had said. DID she
mean a threat or was II only womlns
talk? ! rode mp 10 the lieutenant and
was just about - mention the thing 10
him when from a clump Of bushes there
sounded such a shout as I had never
heard before Our men were scattered
over about hair a mile OF road and
there was no chance 20 get them to-
gcther. as q was. ! don't believe any
effort was made. Tor each man seemed
TO be taklns care Of himself As !
pulled mp ! saw about a dozen John
MICS making toward me.
Surrender. you Yankee . or
we'll on you fun Of holes. could do
nothing 10 thought discretion the bet
ter part Of yalor and pulled up where
! stood
DismOunt'. cried big fellow. aim
ing his KUN At me-
! dismounted and was led into the
woods. where found a sumber Of our
men who had been previously captured
There was another sergeant beside my
self and asked him how many there
were Of ms. he told me that nine had
been captured with him We aid no,
halt long In the woods but we're soon
taken over the river. there 10 walt
until the others came IN. Only three
men were left 10 guard us. but as
we were without arms that was quite
enough. While we were sitting on the
river bank bemoanlng our fate no.
ticed a little piece Of newspaper float.
ing on the surface Of the water. I
played with Il awhile. then drew Il
forth. Glad TO do anything to pass the
tine ! at down and looked II over
Down In one corner I read the story
Of a S7essan throwing vItrlol into an.
others eyes
when YOU have given up I'm desplir
when nothing but a rebel prison stands
before you. your thoughts are some.
what lively. Mine we've. az any rate
and prayed for M ounce Of yltrloi a' |
that moment But the prayer was IN /
vain. ] had no vItriol and nothing 10 |
take Its place. We We're sitting In the /
sand and the guards were talking 10 |
ms like old friends An % once start. |
ed up. bad an Idea that looked foaq. |
ib'e What's The matter with fnd9 II /
we could manage 10 get q handful Of
sand IN each guards eyes We might
escape T. wa8 an inspiration. The
more I thought oi % the more feasible
IL became, and ] got 90 nervous think
ing over % that ! couldn't slt sim. Il
sat down and got up. / walked as FAR
as ! dared and Flt down again. We
prisoners were all together and
thought of some plan by which / might
with the others. The
guard surrounded us aud Il leaked IN
be impossible. made nly motlons 10
he other sergeant. but he was 80 much
aiken mp with bis own Affairs that ne
couldn't understand and gave up the
del Of attracting his attention. Righi |
next TO me was a little York county /
ia try him. whispered |
hat II We could only cast a handful /
hc others would Ret IN IA soon as
hey saw the point
we had been waiting for half an
hour and the guards we're becoming |
.cstless. They stood about and talked |
n sand into each guards eyes We
night escape. lie was a cunning little
luck and instantly grasped the idea
and slgnaled that q was al right I
Jaw him look for sand right away
Then whispered 10 another man and
he slgnaiod that he understood and he
looked for sand. In this way | man
aged 10 communicate the idea to the
others and IN little while | had ak
men IN the secret. had no doubt that
TO Canh 0ihef ana 10 W.. lhen ! en-
tered into conversation with them
about the war and saw the York coun.
~ man gather a doublo-handful Of
sand. then some Of the others did the
same and ono would have thought chat
ms Yanks were mud-ple makers with
cut doubt had they seen the industry
OF these men, had no, got my sand
yet, but determined TO be in II and
soon left the guard and collected my
sand. The other men were sitting
about thinking Of their trip TO rebel
dom, when | suddenly arose ar II to
depart, which caused my guard to look
about The next instant l had dashed