The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-07-03
A FRIENDuWITH THE
,COUNTERSIGN.
CONTINUED from first page)

| CONTINUED from first pageJ
For a long time neither spoke. The sun
was in midheayen; the place was cool; we
rested. York had chung to his sack
through all the scramble; we ate little,
but had no water
walter, York;
Only about two miles, subj"
II ought to have waited for night
"1cs, sub; that would have been bet
teh.'
l was not quite. sure of it, however. II
Scranton had seen me, the game would
have been lost by the days delay.
How far is it to White House!'
white House itself is on the Otheh side
of the riveh; perhaps III miles from heah,
suh."
How far to the river on this side!'
about nine miles, suh.'
| How far do these woods eXtend"'
"a long distance, sub; neatly to the
riveh."
Have we been going toward the
river"
Not direckly, sub; we all going down
it"
How far to our right is it?''
| "Ihree miles, sub, about
Don't you think we ought to get near
the river?'
| I1dHuiy, sun, IHe river Is 81 cloohco
that we'd lose time by following it,
But we'd be safer?'
81 can't say, sub; the Confederates cross
it when they WISH"
l was for going on; York argued for re-
naming where we were till night. While
we We're debating this matter, shot was
heard at our rear and left, seemingly a
quarter of mile away.
What do you suppose that means,
York;
He did not reply at once; he was listen
ing. Now he stood up, looking and heark-
ening toward the big road at the left, IN
which we had seen the renegadcs. He
waved his hand at me to keep quiet. and
disappeared in the bushes, going toward
the read.
What the shot had meant l could not
think. Was it signal? \ signal of
| what? Perhaps our escape had been
learned, and the force was gathering for a
new effort to surround us. | was wishing
we had not stopped. | wished York had
not left me. We ought to so on.
L heard footsteps, and York stood be-
fore me. The rascal was grinning.
They've got Bahton, sub" he said.
who is BartonT
"One of the men who set the woods
| afiah, suh.'
And who's got him?'
THE home-gyuahds, sub. Got him and
his boss. | reckon they'll hang him"
And what has become of the others!'
Il don't know, sub; they've run away, l
suppose
You seem very glad that a man is in
danger of being hanged, York"
Yes, sun; wish they'd hang evey one
of EN-"
Although / did not wish that any man
should be hanged, yet L felt immense re-
lief.
We can go on now, York;
"Oh, yes sub; theah is no longeh any
dangeh, at least f'om those men,
| But from other menT
Yes, sub THE home gyuahds ah yO' enc
mics" Tst.t
We must risk them" said l, rising.
| York led ithe, way rapidly straight
| through the woods, his course guided by
| nothing whatever. 50 far as | could see.
An almost sheepless night had been fol-
| lowed by a forenoon Of intense anxiety
and of actual suffering, and | was com
PEELED to ask York to lessen his speed; but
| even q slower progress was hard on me,
tand before Il great while | demanded rest.
The negro encouraged me to keep on going
for Il short distance more; we should soon
reach good water, and then we might rest
till dark, if L wished-a good spring, he
said. g..
Near anybody's house?' asked, with
| some fear. >, q
No, subj at de ole church; chu'ch done
gone, but spring dab yit, he said, in the
affectionate manner OF u negro giving com
fort.
Public place, York;
NO, sub; theah is Il crossroad and an
old graveyard, but the spring is on this
side. Well be all right"
A few hundred yards farther on York
stopped.
Stay heah, sub, till | 90 and see," he
! said. The spring is right theah,' point
IN
feet away, surrounded by underground. /
told him to be careful and not go in sight
of road or house. He went on, and | at
once found the spring and drank and
| drank; then | stripped off my coat and
bathed my hands and face, and took off
my shoes and put my feet i'll the cold
| stream below, and let them sink in the wet
sand and stay and soak. You know what
Il delight it is to wade in the water, and
| to feel your feet make connection with
Mother Earth; it does you good through
and through.
When York returned, he found me lying
fiat on my back, with my legs in the water
and my feet on the sand at its bottom.
| Nothing to feah up theah, suh," he
said.
| 1t was now 3 o'clock, and | was sure
that Il few hours rest would be well spent.
| We found a hidng-place some 200 yards
farther down the branch; then l tried to
| steep, ana at last dId sleep, 4ork prOmlS-
| ing to remain awake.
About sunset l awoke. York had been
faithful to his promise; he was sitting on
the ground, some 10 steps away, watching
| toward the road. We set out again, max
ing for the river, where York thought he
could find boat. We were soon ON the
edge Of an opening. York halted, and
pointed to an object pendent over the pub
lie road. Just where the roads crossed, a
great oak spread its limbs far and wide.
From one of these limbs danged the Mil
ford outpost, hatless, coatless, and shoe
less 1t was not 20 yards from the spot
| where | was standing.
Il tole you they got Bahton, subj said
York.
| said nothing.
On the bole of the tree a board had been
nailed, and with a piece of charcoal had
been rudely lettered:
WORNING TO TRAITORS