The National tribune., 1902-01-16
WHO GOES THERE?
Continued from first page.l

ahead, and dartcd quickly to another
Soon | saw before me a fallen tree, and
wondered if il might not conceal some
videt. Yet. if it did. the sentinel should
he Oh my side of the tree. | stood for q
few moments, intently searching il with
my eyes. 1t was not more than Ii yards
from me. and directly in my course. Al
last. seeing nothing, | SpranS quickly and
was Just about to lie down behind it. when
a man rose from its other side. | did not
lie down. He looked Iat me; | looked al
him. He was unarmed We We're about
eight feet apart He: began In rccoil
| There was light sufficient to enable me Il
tell from his dress that he was rebel
or course he would think me COnfed
crate. l stepped over the log.
What are you doing here, sir:' | de-
manded. in stern voice; why are you
not with Your rcgimcnt?'
He said nothing to this. IL was
ahaShed. His eyes sought the ground.
why don't you answer me, sir!'
asked.
He replied timidly, Il am not doing any
harm
What do you mean by being here at
Il got lost in the woods last night" he
said, 'and went to sleep here, waiting fol
day"
Then get back to your company al
once" said |: what is your rcgimcutI'
The 7th' he replied.
And your brigadcY
He looked up wOnderingly at this, and
l feared that | had made an Unnecessary
mistake through over-carefulness in trying
to secure another corroboration of what
already knew well enough. | thought
could perceive his idea, and | added in an
instant: Don't you know that troops
have come up in the night: What bri,
gade is yours?'
''Branch's," he said.
"Then you will find your camp just in
this direction" said |, pointing to the rear
and left. He skunk away, seemingly well
pleased TO be quit at so cheap Il cost.
Fearing that our voices mad been heard
by the pickets, | plunged through the
bushes directly toward the east, and ran
for a minute without pauSing. Again the
cold sweat was dropping from my face;
again | had felt the mysterious mental
agony attendant upon a too violent transi-
tion Of personality. Perhaps it was this
peculiar condition which pressed me to
prolonged and unguarded energy. i went
through thicket and brier patch. over logs
and gullcs. and when | paused | knew not
where | was.
After some reflection | judged that
had pursued an easterly direction so far
that Jones was now not to the northeast
but more to the north; | changed my
course then, bending toward the north
and before sunrise reached the creek
which on the preceding night, | had
crossed after leaving Jones. | did mol
know whether he was above me or below,
so | crossed the stream at the place where
| struck it. and went straight away from
it through the swamp.
After going q long distance | began to
fear that ! was missing my course, and
did not know which way to turn.
whistled; there was no response.
No opening could be soon in any direction
through the swamp. My present course
had led me wrong: it would not do at all
TO 20 on; should get farther and farther
awaT from Jones. If I should assume any
direction as the right one, | should be
likely to have guessed wrong. | spent an
hour working my way lahQriOusly through
the swamp, making wide and wider sweeps
to reach some opening or some tree on
higher ground. At last saw open ground
on my left. | went rapidly to it. and
found a field, with a fence separating ii
from the woOds-thc fence running east
and wcst--and saw. several hundred
yards toward the west, the corner Of the
field at which | had stationed Jones.
At once | began TO so rapidly down the
hill toward the place, As | came near
saw both horses prick their ears. Jones
was sitting on the ground, with his gun in
his lap, alert toward the west; | was in
his rear. Suddenly he, too, saw the move
mcnt Of the horses; he Sprang quickly ia
tree. from behind which / could now see
the muzzle of his gun 10 PAGES off.
whistlcd. The gun dropped, and Jones
advanced, frightened.
81 came in an ace of it," he said, in a
loud whisper; why didn't you signal
soOner?"
"TO tell you the truth, l did not think
of it in time, Jones; | am glad to see you
so watchful."
81 should never have recognized you in
that plight" said he: what have you
done with your other clOthesE
HAD to throw them away"
"Well! / certainly had no notion of see
ing you come back as you are-and from
that direction"
This was the first time | had seen myself
as Confederate standing with Union sol
der. In the night, mixed with the rebels
] had felt no visible contrast with them
Since | had left the wagon J had had nc
time for thought of personal appearance
Now | looked at myself My hands were
scratched with briers; my hat was torn;
great hole was over one knee, which
had used most in crawling. | was muddy
to my knees, having been more rapid than
cautious in crossing the creek For more
than "a hours my mind had beer on toe
great a strain to think of the body. BY
the side of me, Jones looked like glitter.
ing General questioning an uncouth rebe
prisoner. He smiled, but 7 did not.
Now let us mount and ride" said I
1--WE can eat as we go. The horses have
had an all nights rest, and | can notify
you that | need one, but it won't do tC
stay here. | know all that We need tC
know"
We decided that we should return tC
Old Church by the route which we had
followed in coming. As we rode. | de
scribed to Jones the position and force OF
the enemy, so that, if | should be taken
and he left, he could report to Gen
MOrcll. We avoided the fields and roads
and stuck to the woods, keeping sharT
lookout ahead. but going rapidly. At the
first water which we saw ! took time tC
give my head n good souse.
Near the middle of the forenoon We
came ont upon the hills above Crump's
Creek, and were about to descend wheI
we heard a noise at our left, seemingly
the galloping of horses. We dsmounted
and ! crept toward the road until | cOulC
see part of it winding over the hill. About
% or 80 rebel cavalry-tO be exact, they
numbered just -, as ! counted-were al
the road, going at a gailop up the hill
and apparently eXcited-running from
danger. | thought. They disappeared ovel
the hill | thought it quite likely tha
some of our cavalry were advancing OF
the road, and that it would be well fol
me to wait where | was; If l should e
back and call Jones to come, our mel
might pass while was gone.
In short time | saw III the road. gOinl
| westward at n slow walk, another body Ol
cavalry These men tO my nStOuiShmput