Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-14
PER1Ls OF A. NIGHT.


crate bivouac, 1 jumped rail fence
and stood in a cornfieid. i could not
be more than a dozen miles from the
plantation, and, believing tLe general
had returned TO his headquarters, re-
solved to 90 there. The difficulty was to
find the way. Fortunately, the night
was clear and I could see the stars. l
knew the north star, and to the south
west recognized hill with crest OF
trees which doomed against the horizon
and which was quite sure lay near the
plantation. Knowing something of the
direction from my starry compass,
felt confident that by making the hill
my objective point would not go far
anniss.
After making these observations,
which did not occupy tenth of the
time 1 have taken to mention them,
dashed across. the field. 1 had gone but
n short distance, when, glancing aside,
/ saw a figure getting over the fence
which inclosed the field on the north 1
stopped, as much from n paralysis of
terror as from a wish to know whom
would have to encounter. The figure
dropped to the ground and made
straight toward me. AS il approached
was relieved to see that it was n wom-
an, and delighted when recognized
Margaret Beach.
"Am 1 missed?"
"Yes. Quickl"
BY consenung impulse we both made
for low growth of timber not n hun
dred yards below. / asked no ex-
PLANTATION as to what had happened, but
knew long after that my passage
through the bushes had been heard.
and while the guards were discussing
the matter and counting the prisoners
Margaret had slipped away. What was
now most important was hiding-place,
and we lost no time in reaching the
edge of a creek 1 looked about for
some place OF concsalment; my eyes
fell on dark corner in n bend of the
creek, where some driftwood was
heaped against log lying partly on the
bank and partly in the water. mo-
toned to Margaret to get behind the
log. and bounded after her. Then 1
| pulled the drift-wood SO as to- cover
| us, and waited.
Oh, the excitement of those few min
utesl Ny heart thumped against my
breast, trembled all over, and it was
| almost impossible for me TO keep from
| throwing off our covering of wood and
| pushing onward. Indeed, my impulse
| got the better of me, and started to
rise, but Margaret held me down.
had no further opportunity, for in an
/ other moment there was a sound OF
boots among the stubble of the corn
field, and some men jumped the fence
on the hither side. One dashed into
the creek, across it, and hurried away
en- the farther bank. Another crossed
lower down. Two more came to the
bank and paused.
Reckon he's som'r's bout hyar."
''Too near. He'd likely go further
'thout stoppin'."
Don know bout that This tim
ber's a good place TO hidin'. I'm goin'
ter look hyar; you go on if y like; ]
want ter see what's behind that log
afo' CO."
He descended to the creek, advanced
in the rocky bed, came to the end OF
the log that lay in the water, and, bal.
ancing himself by extending his AIMS
assembled the incline. The disadvan
tage of his position appeared to me like
fash. Placing my hands on the log
I vaulted onto it, and, before the maj
could recover from his surprise, claspeC
him round the chest under his extended
arms. We went down together, he OF
his back, on top of him. into shallow
water. Ills skull struck the solid rock
and he lay motionless- got up unhurt
Climbing the log looked down into oul
hiding-place. There lay Margaret in I
dead faint. Scooping some water from
the creek into my hands, i threw it il
her face. 1t revived her and in a few
: minutes she was up.
"Comei Quicki" I seized her by tn
hand, and dragged her out and away
She east a glance at the man lying il
the creek, and shuddered. We climbe,
the opposite bank and stood on the edg
of the timber. There were only tVv
men in sight; they were pushing on to
gether without looking back. Not IN
in advance of where we stood, in tn
E center of an open field was q haycocf
t 1t was the first and only place of rel
uge l could see, and had no time I
4 waste. Dragging Margaret after m'
{ we staggered across the field. keepin
e the hayeoek between us and the me
g in advance; once there we plunged w
Q der the hay. 1t was the worst possibl
s place to hide, for il would be the frs
g place one. would be likely to searcl
s The absurdity OF staying there 500
d struck both of us. crawled out car
It tiously. but scrambled back on mistal
: ing a stump for man; waite'
II crawled out again. listened. stood n
+ and looked about me. A hundred YARD
{ away, in the direction / wanted- to &