News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-07-16

bineS in the bow under the legs of
man who held a double barreled gul
ready for use. When all had crossed
the boat was hauled up into the bushes
just as we had found it on the othe
side. Then we were marched abou
half a mile from the river to a big Iol
hut.
"Now, boys" said my old acquaint
ance, well make you feel as much a
bme as we can without bein' unsafe
Wen onloose one of you at a time, Sc
you can stretch your arms an eat, an
we'll send word to our camp soon e1
we can for somebody to come an take
you long to Richmond"
Were in no hurry to get there, Tn
sure" said |.
He looked at me sharply a moment
and replied:
"Mebbe they amt as well fixed thai
as you uns at Fort Monroe. where they
tuck us when we got ketched, but
they'll do the best they can for you
Besides, you'A be exchanged fore long
tsst as we was"
1t was real kind of him to say this
and told aim So but my heart grew
heavier and heavier. What would ia.
ther and mother think? Who would
write them about my disappearance
What would the writer say? Could
there hf any possible way of getting
word home from Richmond? asked
my old acquaintance this question ana
told him i was afraid my disappear.
ahce would kill my parents unless they
knew what had happened.
THAT'S SO, my friend" said he. Just
you write scrap to some friend OF
yours in your camp, an III see ii
reaches him in a week. Nuthin' else.
though. mind, except that you're cap.
tured"
How VIII you get it there?" asked,
with natural curiosity.
"Ask me no questions. an III tell you
no lies" said he. You give me coffee
one time, don't you remember? Well
chats enough"
LAS it happened that just then was my
turn to be unbound, got some letters
out of my breast pocket and found a
Blank half Sheet OF paper, on which |
peuciled;
Dear Hami'tcn-We were captured by the en-.
any, Tell my father not to worry. Our captors
Ry Sell be exchanged pretty soon
JACK FROST.
My old acquaintance looked over my
shoulder while wrote. When had
finished. he said:
PUT in Il little more. Say The man
that | gave coffee to when he was
Fetched Is the man that's got me, an
Ra says I'll be well treated or his name
ain'tClay Hillyard.' That ought to make
EN- feel easier to home, oughtn't it"
I'm sure it would if they knew
you" said |. 81 wrote them a long
letter after that scout in which you
were captured, about how you fixed
fried bacon and hoecake for us that
night and how you showed me how to
parch corn in bacon fat. l wrote how
Rwfully hungry was on that trip, too,
and my mother wrote back that she'd
pray for you every night Of her life
70: being kind to her boy"
"Sho! You git out! Is that So
fhoughT' said my particular Johnny.
with a sheepish hook. well, mothers
Is all alike, l s'pose." Then he and one
of his party began to prepare meal
Of bacon and hoecake, for it was now
nearly dark.
. The aroma Of the cooking diverted
my thoughts from the situation for we
mad started near noon and in such
haste that we had forgotten TO bring
cur, havetsacks. The Johnnies evident
Il Intended to feed us, for they were
preparing an immense quantity of
food.
"Say, sarge" remarked my friend to
the large, quiet man who seemed to be
The Ieader of the party, these boys
Gaynt eat with their arms tied. Spose
we tie their legs instead. They'll be
safe as'in runnin' away, an they'll be
more comfortable"
The sergeant muttered assent. The
change was made, and then, as we sat
on along, low bench against one wall,
We were beautifully fed. We chatted
freely our captors being quite willing
10 converse, and the conversation ran
as' entirely to farming methods as if
there was no war or other special sub
feet of interest. Two or three hours
after dark the sergeant said to us:
'Now, gentlemen, any Of you that
tties to get. away Il be shot like a dog,
nut IL sou behave yourselves you can
sleep as comfortable as if you was at
home. Just lie down on the floor where
you are whenever you like, or sit up,
but keep to that side.of the room. Wen
keep to this side. If you even put your
hands to your feet you'll be shot, so
don't do it,"
Z said something to the effect that
we weren't fools. Meanwhile my
friend and the third man dropped upon
the floor, with their guns and our car
dimes, while the sergeant sat down
1Ion box in front Of the fire, cooked
d. double barreled shotgun and kept his