The Princeton union., 1899-11-16
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VIII
PER1Ls OF A NIGHT.


knew the north star, and to the south
west recognized a hill with crest OF
trees which loomed 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
amiss.
After making these observations,
which did not occupy a tenth of the
time I have taken to mention them,
dashed across the field. I had gone but
a short distance, when, glancing aside,
I saw a figure getting over the fence
which inclosed the field on the north. I
stopped, as much from paralysis of
terror as from wish to know whom
would have to encounter. The figure
dropped to the ground and made
straight toward me. AS it approached
I was relieved to see that it was wom-
an, and delighted when I recognized
Margaret Beach.
Am I missed?"
Eyes. Quick!"
BY consenting impulse we both made
for low growth of timber not hun
dred yards below. I asked no ex-
planation 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 creek. I looked about for
some place of concealment; my eyes
fell on dark corner in 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
pulled the drift-wood so as to cover
us, and waited.
Oh, the excitement of those few min
utes! My 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 I started to
rise, but Margaret held me down. I
had no further opportunity, for in an
other moment there was 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
on 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'.'
ber's good place fo' hidin'. I'm goin'
ter look hyar; you go on if y like; I
want ter see what's behind that log
afo' 60"
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 arms,
ascended the incline. The disadvan-
tage of his position appeared to me like
flash. Placing my hands on the log,
I vaulted onto it, and, before the man
could recover from his surprise, clasped
him round the chest under his extended
arms. We went down together, he. on
his back, on top of him, into shallow
water. His skull struck the solid rock,
and he lay motionless. Igot up unhurt.
Climbing the log I looked down into our
hiding-place. There lay Margaret in
dead faint. Scooping some water from
the creek into my hands, I'threw it in
her face. It revived her and in few
minutes she was up.
"Come! Quick!" seized her by the
hand, and dragged her out and away.
She cast glance at the man lying in
the creek, and shuddered. We climbed
the opposite bank and stood on the edge
of the timber. There were only two
men in sight; they were pushing on to-
gether without looking back. Not far
in advance of where we stood, in the
center of an open field was haycock.
1t was the first and only place of ref
uge I could see, and 1 had no time to
waste. Dragging Margaret after me,
we staggered across the field, keeping
the haycock between us and the men
in advance; once there we plunged un-
der the hay. 1t was the worst possible
place to hide, for it would be the first
place one would be likely to search.
The absurdity of staying there soon
struck both of us. I crawled out eau
tiously, but scrambled back on mistak-
ing a stump for man; waited,
crawled out again, listened, stood up,
and looked about me. A hundred yards
away, in the direction wanted to go,
was more timber. Could I reach it with
out being seen? The men in advance
had passed on, making to the left, but
there was great risk in passing over the
open ground between the haycock and
the woods, as other searchers might
still be coming. cursed my stupidity
In getting into the center Of an open
field, for I now saw that could have
gone around it, skirting the edge of
the woods. But it, would never do to
stay where we were, and I was about to
call Margaret to come out, when man
emerged from the woods in the direc-
fi0o ~ tho e%o -