The National tribune., 1901-06-06
NATIONAL WASHINGTON D. c. THURSDAY

one of the Southern hells," but whether
the one who had claimed to have seen
him had actually done so. or had seen me,
l could not decide.
/ strove to keep awake. and succeeded
for time, but, finally, wornout nature
triumphed over my fears, and | fell into
a sleep. from which | was awakened by
the noise of someone walking overhead.
| was wide awake at once, and felt
sure my enemies had returned although
/ could hear no talking. After listening
for n minute, however, l decided there
was only one person in the room, but the
rest may be outside. / thought.
The person above walked around for n
while and then went out. closing the door
/ breathed a sigh of relief. but the next
moment the door opened and heard steps
approaching my hiding gplace.
Then, ere | suspected it, the loose
boards were thrown aside, and | was
plainly revealed, and looking straight
down at me was burly negro.
For Gods sake, have pity" l cried,
"and don't tell on me-"
"Oh. bress de Lord, Yo' po' debbil, do
yo' 'spOse Use gwine ter tell on yO'," said
the negro, in a voice of pity. ''Yo's not
the first 'scaped Yani Use sabed frum dem
dat am murderedin dem. No, sab: don't
yo' ebber tink Use gwine ter gibe yo' up
ter DEM"
He then took some food from basket
and handed it to me. 1t consisted Of
cOrnbread and bacon, but tasted fine to
me, nearly famished as I was.
The negro watched me eat with evil
dent satisfaction. "YO's erbout starved,
but ''taint bess' for yo' ter eat all yo' want.
I'll bring yo' some mo- dis ebening."
How did you know | was hereY
asked
"Oh. dey's many er one done been
hyar." he said. "dey all comes hyar. and
yo's not the first one Pompey sabed.
allus knows wher' dey CO.
Now, den," said he, preparing to go,
Use gwne ter cubber yo up agin. an
I'll be back in erbout fo' hours wild a boss
an some supper. Yo' had better go ter
sleep now, fo' yo's got ter git outer hyar
before mOrnin'. er yo'll be discobered and
killed.
He carefully replaced the boards and
then left me. | tried to follow his advice
and go to sleep, but the danger | was in
seemed as though | had but just gone to
sleep when | was aroused by the return
of the negro, who had thrown back the
boards.
Eat dis quick as yo' can," he said !;
''dey has 'spected yo' hyar and yo' mus
git er way"
Thus admonished, I almost bolted the
prOHeFeu 1000 anu uuichly lOiloWed the
negro out of the cabin. He told me we
were not far from a camp of Union SOL
uiers, and that he would lead me there.
Two horses were standing, ready sad
died. under the trees. and quickly untying
them the negro helped me to mount one.
then getting the other bade me follow him
and keep quiet.
We rode on silently for some time with
out anything happening, and | began to
hOup W ShOuld have no difficulty
1t was bright. moonlight night, al
most as light as day. and one could see
objects quite clearly.
All at once Pompey, who was on the
lookout for pursuers, cried out:
''FO' de Lord sake. dare dey come"
and Immediately dashed off at full speed.
| followed him, and for several miles the
race for life continued.
| soon discovered that my horse was
no match for some of those behind me.
and realized that they would certainly
overtake and capture me if the race last
ed much longer.
yves mos dere." shouted Pompey. en-
couragingly, but the next instant there
came Il Yolley from the rear and my horse
sank beneath me-
At the same moment the faithful negro
tumbled to the ground with Il groan. Dis,
entangling myself from the saddle | hast
lily examined my companion. Poor Pom
pey! His work was done: the ball had
struck him in the back and penetrated his
heart.
My tears flowed freely for his untimely
death: but | had no time to linger, for
my pursuers were almost upon me.
After ali the suffering / had endured
was | to be taken almost in sight of safe
ty? Noi / determined to make 4 last
desperate effort to escape. and crouchng
low | managed to gain the edge of the
woods in which / knew the Union camp
was located just as my pursuers discov-
cred me.
With yells of triumph they lashed their
steeds after me- and | gave myself up as
lost, but at that moment there came an
answering shout in front and squad of
blue coats" burst into view.
"Thank God, | am saved" | exclaimed,
and the next instant / fell unconscious.
1t was three weeks later ere | again
awoke to a realization of what was pass
ing around me, and found myself in a neat
bed in one of our hospitals.
My exposure, lack of food and intense
suffering of mind and body had brought
on n fever in which consciousness was
lost in the rawlings of deirium.
1t was weeks before / was able to re-
turn to the home | had once almost de-
SPARED of seeing, and months ere | was
strong enough for duty.
In the suffering of those weeks | spent
in the swamps and hills of Virginia and
in the delirium that followed | lost for
ever the information | had gone to secure.
and for which | had paid so dearly: but
it was Just as well, for it would have
been practically useless after the long in
teryal which had interviewed.
CThe end)