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

! saw him loosening the strap at his feet
and motioning me to do likewise Then
he rose softly, took the guards gun,
handed it to me and proceeded to tie
the fellows feet.
Then understood what Charley was
up to, and, although l was so frighten-
! ed that | was afraid | would drop the
| gun, | covered the sergeant and my
rebel friend with it. | wasn't going to
| be outdone in appearance of bravery
| by any five foot eX-student of theology
| alive, even if he happened to be my
| particular friend. Nevertheless as
stood there with that gun | devoutly
| prayed that the slumbers of the re-
cumbent Johnnies might continue to be
very sweet.
Meanwhile Brainard carefully I'M
bound the two other men of our own
party. l wondered why he didn't wake
, them and tell them to loosen them
selves, but | offered no suggestions.
don't believe | could have spoken had
l tried. With the belts taken from our
boys Brainard softly bound, or hob
oied, the feet of the sleeping graycoats.
Then he cut the sling strap from our
captains canteen and bound their
hands also. They became somewhat
FESTIVE under thist operation, and the
sergeant suddenly opened his eyes.
The fire that shot from those eyes
when the sergeant saw me with his
gun at point made me tremble, and
when he strained at his bonds | recall
ed the story of Samson.
"We're awfully sorry, sergeant" said
Brainard, that it had to be done, but
duty is duty, you know"
The sergeant was speeches.. Per
haps twas just as well, for | learned
afterward that he was a member of the
church. He did, however, arouse my
old acquaintance by nudging him with
his tied feet, but when that matter of
fact fellow grasped the situation he
CALCULATED "Well, I'll be -"
Charley took one of our boys and
went out of the hut. They came back
in about half an hour and said they
had the boat ready. In the interval my
old acquaintance had exclaimed about
once in five minutes and each time ap-
parently after profound thought, well,
I'll be -
! finally told him | hoped not, and it
wasn't his fault we had turned the
tables on him.
''Jest tell me how you done it ALL"
go ~ I ocIv
1--WE didn't do it," said |, thinking to
get off a practical temperance lecture
that might be repeated after the war
1--WE didn't do it; whisky did it," Then
l nodded suggestively toward the
guard who had wanted medicine.
whisky" exclaimed the questioner,
with a wide eyed look. AN you didn't
offer me a toothful?" Then he look
ed reproachfully and remarked, II
wouldn't hev thought it Of you"
This made me feel so bad that l
FASTENED to say:
81 didn't do it. l never thought Of
the whisky. Twas given to me to use
in case we got a soaking. l wouldn't
have thought of it again. | haven't
tasted whisky three times in my life"
The poor fellow looked at me search
ingly and finally said: I've got to
b'lieve you. do b'lieve you. But. say,
whar was you brlng up?"
"Score one for the north" said to
myself, as shortly answered, York
state"
"Now, gentlemen" said Brainard,
wed better move before any of your
friends drop along and upset our plans
Two of us will first take the sergeant
and the firearms across the river"
AS the sergeant didn't demur Brain
ard loosened his feet and took him
down to the skiff, the other boys stag
gering under all the weapons except |
the gun. which | held. In about Is
minutes one came back with the boat, !
and the remainder of us crossed, the |
Decentralization being covered in the