Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-06-02
An Episode of Bloc and Gray in the Civil War.

here on the dry ground, keep one eye
and both ears open, and rest myself
till there is light enough to see where
[ am
He had no difficulty in finding what
seemed an ideal spot, few PAGES
away, and dropped upon the ground
under the shelter of a spreading tree.
In his wearied condition it is easy to
imagine the result. The one eye and
two ears upon which he had placed his
dependence were almost instantly
locked in the insensibility ofEprofound
sleep.
Charles Foster was dreaming all
manner of dreams, when something
telegraphed to his real consciousness
that there were other and more i'm
portant things in the world than
dreams. He sprang to his feet, still
half asleep and confused with dissolv-
ing visions; but he was wide awake,
sure enough, the moment his eyes
took in his surroundings. 1t was
not only fully light, but the level sun
was sending long rays of gold through
the openings in the semi-forest where
he had been resting. Yet these were
matters of the most trivial conse-
quence, compared with the fact that
not a dozen feet away stood tall
young man, gazing full at the startled
soldier
Hello, Yank! What are you doing
here? Are there any more of your
people right about here?"
well, Johnny, that's something l
might ask you!" was the unhesitating
response; though Charles Foster
realized that the utterance of the
words cost him more effort than he
had ever before put into single SEN
tence.
Come, Yank; answer my question.
It'll be better for you!" There was a
trace of sternness in the tone, though
a half-smile played over the speakers
features.
"Oh, well; you don't seem to be in
a condition to do much threatening!"
Foster was aware the moment
the words left his lips, that the tone
of confidence with which he meant to
have spoken was lamentably absent.
There was no doubt that the man con-
fronting him was confederate sol
der. Not only was he partially IN
uniform, but his right arm was in a
sling, while his carriage and bearing
spoke of wellheeded military training.
His left arm was thrust beneath his
coat, and Foster did not for moment
doubt that the hidden hand rested up
It would have been a
great relief if he could have looked be-
men were there; but for prudential
reasons he thought it best to keep his
eyes to the front and his upper lip as
rigid as circumstances would permit.
He felt the ability to do that fading
away, however, as the smile on the
face of the other broke into a sharp,
light laugh, instantly checked.
1--WE of the south are not making
threats!" the intruder replied, while
his eyes seemed to read the very heart
of the youth before him. 1--WE leave
that for you of the north. We write
our worus in deeds, as you have par
TALLY learned, and as you will learn
more fully within the next few
months"
"'And for that matter we fellows
seem to do a little writing, tool" ex-
claimed Foster, motioning toward the
ofhor'c disabled arm
An angry flush momentarily suffused
the confedrate's face.
"That was not the work of a Yankee
bullet. But that is neither here nor
there You are utterly in my power,
fellow; and / might either leave you
here for a long rest or march you into
our camp" The uninjured arm fell
demonstrating by his side, the
hand carelessly grasping silver
mounted revolver. "But I have no Use
toward yOu-you seem to be a good
hearted sort Of boy; and besides have
no wish to bother with any side issues
just now. \, lat do you say, Yank, to
a truce between us, in all good faith,
to last until we meet again %
''I'm agreed, sir; with all my heart .
$50 be it, then" The revolver was
replaced, and the hand which had neld
it was extended, and was c1asped with
a great feeling of relief by the Union
soldier. "And now, Yank, pardon me
if I repeat my question. What are
you doing here? Don't you know that
this is a dangerous place for-for
stray Yankees?"
For the first time Foster ventured
to glance behind him; a movement
which the other was quick to in
terpret.
''Not now; not Immediately. But
you were sleeping here, miles from
the outposts of your army, unarmed,
unguarded. Suppose that instead of
a disabled officer coming home by a
forced march at night to pass a few
days with friends, troop of Mosby's
brave riders had CHANGED this way?"
n