The Princeton union., 1899-11-16


now suppose we should encounter some
Of the searchers in the timber? It was
more than likely that we would. Ifan-
cied it full Of armed men and every man
pointing a carbine at me, ready to call
on me to surrender the moment I
reached the edge. And no sooner would
they discover the man had left in the
creek than they would dash my brains !
out with the butt Of a gun or shoot me
down. -.~{ '.s..z
. We hurried on and at last reached
cover. Once there, we stopped and lis
tened. Allwas still. We leaned against
a tree, not so much for rest as to give
our hearts time to stop humping. But
we dared to remain only moment. l
took Margaret by the hand and led
her trembling onward. I looked up for
the north star, got my bearings, and,
turning to the southwest, there was the
crested hill. &@+e-.s.
"Do you see that hill?" 1 asked of
Margaret.
"Yes."
isn't it near your homer"
EYES,"
"Good! We'll go for it,"
We started on, walking briskly, for
hope had come to give us strength.
There was timber on either hand; we
kept sharp lookout ahead, intending
to dodge into the woods in case we
should stumble on any of our pursuers,
Passing plantation, I trembled as I
heard the low growl of dog, but we
shot in among trees on the opposite
side and got by without further at
tracing his attention.
Sometimes we left the road to take to
the woods, sometimes crossed fields,
followed by-paths, always keeping our
eyes on the crested hill. When ex-
hausted we rested in secluded spot,
then arose and trudged on till we were
again exhausted, then rested anew.
The distance we traversed was, as the
crow flies, not more than six or seven
miles, but there were hills and ravines
and creeks, and obstacles of every
kind, and when we followed the roads
they all led the wrong way. However,
the nearer we got to our goal the bet
ter Margaret knew the way, and at last
she was enabled to point it out through
by-paths and patches of wood till we
came to the base of the hill. Slowly
we climbed the ascent, and at last,
standing on the summit, by the light
of early dawn saw beneath US the plan
tation.
Thank heaven! There are the stars
and stripes flying in the yard, the white
tents, the sentinels pacing, the lines of
horses tethered to the horizontal poles.
Oh, the exhilaration of the sight!
Margaret" I cried, "we are safe.
See, there is the plantation"
I'm glad for your sake.'
"Why not for your own?''
She shook her head mournfully. In
a moment the position she occupied oc-
Cured to me.
"Oh, Margaret, how could you break
your parole?"
She was silent.
'You agreed not to aid the rebel
cause, and you went straight from our
camp to theirs"
Still she gave no reply.
Then I fell to thinking, conjuring up
all sorts of plans by which she might
escape the consequences of her act.
They were all worthless. At last in
despair I exclaimed: go back; reioin
the confederates, and never see the
general again."
She laid her hand on my sleeve to stay
my heated judgment, but did not speak
made no defense. Then she started
on. I hung back.
"Are you coming?"
She turned and looked at me. In
my fathers house at home hung a pic
ture of Iphigenia going to the sacrifice,
turning to look at the musicians behind
her. The melancholy of the girls eyes
had haunted me from boyhood. saw
it now in Margaret's.
"You shall not" I cried, with almost
a sob.
She came back and took me by the
arm. I suffered her to lead me on,