The Princeton union., 1899-11-16

There was evidence of treachepy on the
part Of the general; there was viola
ton of parole on the part of Margaret
Beach; while I, who had always been
sensitive to my honor, had lied like a
pirate and cheated at cards, only to be
despoiled of my winnings. But what
puzzled me most was Berante's asking
if the general was making love to
Margaret. Yet I knew Berante to be
such an arrant rascal that believed he
had some concealed motive for asking
the question. However, self-preserva-
ton and the love of liberty overweighed
all other considerations, and soon fell
to laying plans for escape. I felt hope
full as to eluding my guards and leaving
the place where 7 was held captive.
Union prisoners of war, when not con-
fined in regularly appointed prison,
often found it easy to get away from
their captors; the trouble was to reach
the union lines. Indeed, many an es-
capped prisoner, after wandering about
without food or shelter, finally gave
himself up to avoid starvation. I sur
veyed our little camp and noted the
situation. Three sides of a. square
were guarded by sentinels, while the
fourth was protected by wagons. If
I could get under one Of those wagons
might escape through the bushes on
the other side.
AS night came on bleak wind arose
and kept close to the campfire in the
center of our prison square. The senti-
nels were watchful, and gave up any
hope I may have had Of an early at
tempt to get away, and, turning my
back to the blaze, fell asleep awoke
with the consciousness that some one
was looking at me. Sitting up, I rubbed
my eyes. The fire was nearly out, the
sentries lounging on their posts, only
one of them pacing his beat called
to him and asked what time of night
it was.
"Wall, Yank, I reckon It's about time
fo' that relief to turn out, n that's at
ten er tharabout."
was about to lie down again, when
t. he same feeling came over me that
was with me when woke. Some one
was surely looking at me. Glancing
under one of the wagons, peering into
the darkness, I saw what at first was
little more than two eyes; then made
out the face of a woman. She was
lying fiat on the ground, her head raised
SO that she could look at me. At last
I recognized Margaret Beach. She sig
nailed to me, putting her fingers to her
lips, warning me not to attract the at
tention of the guard. 1t was plain that
she wished to assist me to. escape. l
shook my head, giving her at the same
time glance of contempt, but she
persevered, and I was so anxious to
regain my liberty that at last l felt
wlling-I admit it with blush.to
accept assistance from one who, if true
to me, was certainly a menace to the
union cause. intimated by look that
l would act with her, and she at once
disappeared from under the wagon.
wondered what she would do. 1
had not long to wait, for in a few min
utes heard one of the sentries give the
customary challenge: "Who comes
there?'' Then saw by the freight
Margaret approaching the guard. What
she said I could not hear, but saw that
she was talking to him earnestly. The
two other sentries left their beats and
went to hear what she was saving. l
judged that she was inventing a story
of some threatened danger. She stood
outside the guard-Hne, thus contriving
to place the listening sentinels so that
their backs were turned toward their
prisoners. The fire was fortunately
low,, though one brand persisted in
burning brightly. Selling it, I smoth-
erd it in the ashes; then, while the
sentries' faces were turned from me,
rolled toward the nearest wagon, main
tanning my rigidity like mummy
blown by the wind. Halt the distance
was accomplished when one OF the men
turned to 60 to his beat. to reach which
he must come directly toward me. Mar
garet quickly called him back. Making
. few rapid turns, rolled under the
I wagon, then got up and ran like a deer.