The National tribune., 1899-02-16

the levee, through "Natchez under the
Hill, up over the crest OF the bluff, anC
made their way straight for the lighted
room in the hotel. They met no one, and
apparently the whole city was unaware o
| their presence.
Their entrance aroused the noddine
clerk, who mechanically turned the pages
| oil his register and held it to them to add
their names. Col. Ellet ran his eye down
| the page.
ii see you have a number of rebel Off
| GERS here" he said to the clerk: "alI these
are such, are they not" he indicated with
a gesture.
''Rebel officersp' said the clerk, waking
up; they belong to our army, and the
| camp is just out of town"
Yes; show us to their rooms, please.
Bronson, first make a list of them. Now,
sir, We are ready"
Have you business with them. They
Will dislike to be disturbed" said the
clerk, now thoroughly awake. The porter
ceased snoring and rubbed his eyes.
Yes, I've urgent business. Be kind
enough to hurry"
The tone in which this was spoken
drove the last vestige OF sleep from the
brain OF the clerk, and the porter stood up
and yawned.
"Were you sent from the camp for them,
| sir Are they wanted for some ServiceF
81 was sent for them, but not from the
camp. I'm the commander of the United
States gunboat, and they are my pris-
| onerS."
Had he announced himself as a mes
Senger from the Subtcrrannean kingdom
the effect would have not been more
| startling. The clerk grew ashen pale,
and the whites OF the porter's eyes occu-
pied the greater part of his face. The
clerk rallied Il little.
81 say, now, that's good Joke to play on
the boys. It'll be real good drier on 'em
rubbing his hands in an anticipating
way }; But, of course, you can't take me
in. Where's your gunboat'"
Lying at the wharf. I've no time to
waste in words. Show us to their rooms
Immediately, or it viii be the worse for
you"
There was no installing this. Nor did
either the clerk or porter do so. With
tremulous lips and shaking hands they
prepared lights and led the way to the
chambers OF their military guests.
There was the same scene at every
door. Beginning with a program denunci-
atory of those who were awakening him
the occupant would pass through stages
OF unbelief in the announcement of who
his arousers were, then, that the whole
thing was practical Joke in rather bad
taste, by his comrades, until the truth
was forced upon his recognition, and he
was warned that any attempt to escape
by the windows would result in his being
shot by the guards outside. Someone
talked of defending themselves in their
rooms The answer was blow against
the lock of the door with the butt OF Bron-
sons musket, which sent the door flying
open, and showed the recalcitrant one
such an array of armed men as brough t
him to reason. La little while 20 half
dressed officers, with minds stupefied
with establishment, were marched To the
wharf, under a guard commanded by
Sergt Bronson, while Col. EIlet followed
with the rest TO watch, and if need be,
suppress some suspicious groups that
appeared to be forming. There were 5000
men and several pieces of artillery in the
camp, and single mis-step would have
brought the whole of this force down on
him, but good luck dominated, and not
shot was fired un I'll the ram was released
from the wharf and was headed down
stream.