Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-21

NSLIl fN3SSS't y the stern, and cross ri
WAhANf1s9gN the river; then ono
1lF sSssD,r(P brought the boat back
~ d 81, and took over the re.
etatltyEsW =, mninder of the party
bines In the bow under the legs of u
man who held double barreled gun
ready for use When all had crossed,
the boat was hauled up into the bushes
just as we had found it on the other
side. Then we were marched about
half a mile from the river to big log
hut.
"Now. boys" said my old acqunnt.
ancc. "Wcll make you feel as much al
home as we can without bein' unsafe
Wen onloosc one of you at n time, SO
Won can stretch your arms an eat, an
well send word to our camp soon "a
we can for somebody to come an take
you long to Richmond"
Were in no hurry to get there, I'ir
sure said |.
lie looked at me sharply q moment
and replied:
"Mcbbe they amt as well fixed thai
as you uns ct Fort Monroe. where they
tuck us when we got ketched, but
they'll do the hest they can for YOU
1,csdrS. you'll be exchanged fore long
Just aS We was"
1t was real kind of him to say this
and ! told him So but ny heart grew
heavier and heavier. What would fl.
Their and mother Think Who would
nj Il &c gAi
What would the writer say? Gould
there be any possible way of getting
word home from Richmond? | asked
my old acquaintance this question and
told him was afraid my disappear,
ance would kill my parents unless they
knew what had happened.
That's SO, my friend" said he. "Just
you write a scrap TO some friend OF
yours in your camp an I'll see II
reaches him in week. Nuthin' else.
though, mind, except that you're cap.
tured'
"ITow will you get it there?" asked,
with natural curiosity.
ask me no questions, an I'll tell you
no lies" said he. You give me coffee
one time don't you remember? Well
that's enough
As it happened that just then was my
turn to be unbound, got some letters
out Of my breast pocket and found
blank half sheet of paper, on which
penciled:
Dear Hamilton-we were captured by the en-
envy. Tell my iather not 10 worry. Our captori
say we II be exchanged pretty
JACK FROST.
My old acquaintance looked over my
shoulder while l wrote. When i hao
finished, he said:
Put in little more Say The man
that 1 gave coffee to when he was
ketchcd is the man that's got me, an
he says I'll be well treated or his name
ain'tClay Hillyard.' That ought to make
'em feel easier to home, ouchtn't IT,"
I'm sure it would if they knew
YOU" said l. 81 wrote them a long
lcttcr after that scout in which yor
We're captured. about how you fixed
fried bacon and hoecakc for US that
night and how you showed me how tc
parch corn il bacon fat | wrote how
awfully hungry | was on that trip too
and my mother wrote back that she d
pray for you every night of her life
for being Kind 10 her boy"
'Sho! You git out! Is that so
thought" said my particular Johnny,
with a sheepish look. well, mothers
IS all alike, / spose." Then he and one
Of his party began to prepare a meal
If bacon and hoecake, for it was now
nearly dark.
The aroma OF the cooking diverted
my thoughts from the situation, for we
had started near noon and in such
haste that we had forgotten 10 bring
our haVersxcks. The Johnnies evident
~ 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 leader of the party, these boys
cayn't eat with their arms tied. S'pose
we tie their legs instead. They'll be
safe agln runnin' away, an they'll be
more comfortable"
The sergeant muttered assent. The
change was made, and then. as we sat
Oh a long, low bench against one wall,
We We're bountifully fed. We chatted
freely, our captorS being quite willing
to converse, and the conversation ran
rs entirely to farming methods as if