The National tribune., 1901-12-12

sure that there never had been one. The
| road before my eyes was untraycled; the
ruts were weeks old, without the sign of a
| fresh track since the last rains; the road
was not now used, that was a certainty.
When was this road used? The whole
situation became clear; the road had been
good road before the rebels came; when
they fortified their lines they rendered the
road useless. They destroyed the ford by
building the dam below.
| made my way down the stream, little
elated at my solution of what at first had
seemed a mystery, for l felt that Nick
would have told me offhand all about it.
In less than a mile ] came to another
road running into deep water. Now,
thought i, if my solution is correct, we
shall shortly see another dam, and it was
not five minutes before | came in sight
of the second dam.
l climbed a tree near by; l could see
portions of a line of earthworks on the
other side of the river. The line of
works seemed nearly straight, at least
much more nearly so than the river was.
| To attack the Confederate lines here
would be absurd, unless our troops could
first destroy the dams and find an easy
crossing.
BY this time the middle of the after
neon had passed and | was famishing. |
believed it impossible that | should be
made me still hungricr; yet | cast about
me to see if there was any way to get re-
lief. / blamed myself for not having
brought food from camp. | had made up
my mind to remain this night near the
river, as | could not get back TO camp,
seeing that my work was not yet done,
until the next day; so | must expect many
hours of sharp hunger unless | could find
food.
| now felt convinced that on the rebel
left there was a continuous line of works
behind the Warwick, from Lees Mill up
to Yorktown, and all | cared to prove was
whether that line had its angle at the
former place, as Nick had declared, and
as seemed reasonable to me from every
consideration. 1 would, then, make my
way carefully down the river to Lees
Mill, and if possible finish my work be
fore sunset; but my hunger was so great
that | thought it advisable to first seek
food. So, deferring my further progress
down the stream, | set out in an eastcrly
direction by the road which had crossed
previously above the second dam, in the
hope that this road would lead me to some
house where help could be found, for |
was now getting where risks must be
run; food was my first need.
However, | did not expose myself, but
kept out of the road, walking through
the woods. My road was soon enlarged
ny dnOlHtT Godu JclIlinS IL, tOHllHS III IIOIu
the north and seeming well worn from
recent use. | had been walking for near
ly mile when / heard noise behind me
clearly the noise of horses coming.
lay fiat behind a bush which grew by a
fallen tree. Three hOrsemen-rebels-
passed, going southwark. They passed at
u walk, and were talking, but their words
could not be distinguished. The middle
man was riding a gray horse.
A bput half 81 mile oT pprhopc lpSS
ther on, the woods became less dense, and
soon | came to a clearing; III this clearing
was what the Southern people call u. set
tlement, which consisted of Il small farm
house with n few necessary outbuildings.
Hitched to the straight rail fence that
separated the house yard from the road
were three horses, one of them gray, with
saddles on their backs. | was not more
than 30 yards distant from the horses,
and could plainly see a holster in front of
one of the saddles. j
No sound came from the house. / lay
down and watched and listened. The
evening was fast drawing on, and there
were clouds in the west. but the sun had
not yet gone down, and there would yet
be an hour or two of daylight | feared
that my approach TO Lees Mill must be
put off till the morrow.
a woman came out Of the house and
drew bucket of water at the well in the
yard. She then returned to the house
with her pail of water. Now the sound
of mems voices could be heard and the
stamping of heavy feet within the house;
a moment afterward three men came out
and approached the horses.
The woman was standing at the door;
one of the men shaded his eyes with his
hand and looked toward the west, where
a dazzling cloud-edge barely hid the sun
from view. He was looking directly over
my head; dropping his hand he said. IAN
hour high yit" This man was nearer to
me than the others were. | could less dis
tinctly hear the words of the others, but
when the men got near their horses a con-
yersatlOn was held with the woman stand
ing in the doorway, and the voices on
both sides were raised
Yes" said one of the men, preparing
to mount the gray horse; Eyes, | reckin
this is the last time we'll trouble you any
more"
Your rooms better'n your company"
said the woman, whose words, by reason
of her shrill voice, as well as because she
was talking toward me, were more dis
tinctly heard than the mans.
Now, don't be Ongrateful," said the
man, who by this time was astride his
horse; you've not lost anything by me.
If the Yanks treat you as well as us, sou
may thank your God"
-'Self-praise is half scandal" said the
woman; I'm willin' to resk 'cm eff God
sends 'em.
The man, turning his horse and riding
after his two companions, shouted back:
Hits not God as is sendin' 'em; hits
somebody elser'
You seem to be mighty well acquaint-
ed. hred the woman as Il parting shot.
When the man had overtaken his com
rides at the turning of the road, | had
but little reluctance in going into the
house. The woman stared at me. Ny
gray civilian clothes caught her eye; evi-
IDENTIFY she did not know what to think of
me. She said nothing, and stood her
ground in the middle of the floor
first asked for u drink of water; she
pointed to the bucket, in which there was
common gourd for dipper. / quenched
my thirst; then | said, Madam, | will
pay you well if you will let me have what
cold food you have in the house"
Did you see them men a-ridin' away
from here jest now?' she asked.
Il heard some Voices" said l; "who
were thcy?'
They was some of our men; three of
EN-; they ct up most ev'ything l had, so
haint got much"
See what there is, said |, "and please
be as quick as you can"
She went into another room, and speed
lily returned with ''pOne" of corn bread.
This is all they is" she said
Have you no potatoes or bacon?"
I've got some bacon" she said, but it
amt cooked"
Let me have a pound or two, any
way" said |.
She brought out a. large piece of bacon.
My ole mans gone ydewn to WOFrick TO-