The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-01-11
XVIII,
DISTANT GUNS.

A faint tinge of light appeared in the
east. The moon, whose tipped face
was sinking in the west as though it
were dropping asleep after its nightly
vigil, began to lose it's golden hue and
take on a silver gray under the com
ing sunlight. There was the hush which
precedes the opening of day. Here and
there On either shore a bird that had
not yet set out for it's winter resort
was c~hattering over it's work of get
ting breakfast. Above us was an is
land, and half a mile above the island
was Doughty's fefry-the ferry we
sought. Pulling into a little cove near
the north end, and dragging the bow of
the boat up on the shore, we threw our
selves on the ground, and in five min
utes were sound asleep.
We were awakened by men shouting
orders, and as soon as I could raise my
heavy eyelids T saw a column of con-
federate cavalry riding down the east
bank to the river. Following the ford,
their course lay directly off the island
on which we were concealed. Most of
their officers were well clad in con-
federate gray, while the men wore my
thing, chiefly "butternut." They
splashed across the river, striking the
road on the opposite side leading from
the ferry.
They're going for the plantation,"I
exclaimed.
clark! What was that? Distant
thunder?"
Thunder Not in November. That
was a gun, and not a morning gun
either. My Gods, it's afternoon!
There's a fight going on somewhere"
another gun"
'Of to the west, in the direction of
the plantation. I see how They're
attacking Wilton, or the general, if he
is there"
BY this time the cavalry had reached
the road on the west bank, and soon
after the last files disappeared behind
the hills.
II think we had better pull for the
west ferry" said Margaret. '"They're
doubtless going to join in the fight,
and we'll have little difficulty in fol-
lowing the road in their wake"
Launching our boat, we pulled to the
west shore, striking it a short distance
below the ferry. I climbed the emf
hence, and saw that the coast was
clear. @
"All right" I said, returning to Mar
garet. "There's no obstacle in sight;
we can take to the land and let the
boat go. Good-by, old skiff," and I
pushed it out into the stream. "You
have. served us well.''
"Good-by," said Margaret. go back
to your, owner and tell him how thank
full we are to him for your use. Say
we're sorry we couldn't have asked
permission to take you" !.
The boat nodded, as it rode the wave
lets, as if to say: "Good-by. I'll take
your message" Just then the boom
ing, which had ceased, recommended.
"A parting salute" remarked. "Let
us be getting on"
Rounding the base of the hill, we
soon found ourselves in the road-the
road we had come over a few days be-
fore. Being now in a valley extending
in the direction of the plantation, the
booming was more distinct.
"I'm afraid those are rebel guns"
I said. eff so, our men are hard
pressed"
II thought the general had some cap
tured guns" said Margaret.
$50 he has; but there are only two
of them, and they're nothing but lit
tie barkers."
We trudged on, and at last reached
the base of a hill. which alone sep
arated us from the plantation. Acreek
crossed the road, from whose waters
we took a refreshing drink, then sat
down on the bank for a brief rest.
Our drink, our rest, the thought that
we were near safety, were indeed CRATE
full, and we sat silently rejoicing. A
breeze came lazily from the eastward,
rustling the few withered leaves re-
naming on the trees. It bore the faint
est sound possible for the human ear
to detect, yet we both turned white
as a cloth.
Great God! They are after us with
dogs"
FrN n-