Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-07-30

btnes in the bow under the legs of a
man who held double bnrreled gun
ready for use. When all had crossed,
the boat was hauled up into the bushes
Just as we had found 1t on the other
side. Then we were marched about
half . mile from the river to big log
hut
Now. boys" said my old acquaint.
ance. "we'll make you feel as much at
home as we can without bein' unsafe.
Wen onloese one Of you at time, so
You can stretch your arms an eat, an
we'll send word to our camp soon ez
we can for somebody to come an take
Jon long to Richmond"
We're in no hurry to get there, Pm
sure" said I.
He looked at me sharply moment
and replied:
"Aebbe they amt as well fixed thar
~ you uns at Fcrt Monroe, where they
tuck US when we got ketched, but
they'll do the best they can for. you.
Besides, you'll be exchanged fore long,
Just rs We wasi'
1t was real kind of him to say this,
and told him SO. but my heart grew
heGvier and heavier. What would IA
ther and mother Think Who would
write them about my disappearance?
What would the writer say? Could
there be any possible way of getting
word home from Richmond? asked
my. old acquaintance this question and
told him l was afraid my disappear
ance would kill my parents unless they
knew what had happened.
That's SO. my friend" said he. "Just
yeu write scrap to some friend Of
yours in your camp. an I'll see it
reaches him in week. Nuthin' else,
though. mind. except that you're cap
tuped."
How will you get it therep asked,
with natural curiosity.
AK 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"
Al 1t happened that Just then was my
turn to be unbound, got some letters
cut Of my breast pocket and found a
blank half sheet Of paper, on which
peneiled:
Dear Hamiltop-ws were captured by the en-.
~. 1e1 my hther not to worry. Our captors
~ WI b exchanged pretty soon
JACK FROST.
Ny old acquaintance looked over my
shoulder while wrote. When I had
finished. he said:
'Put In little more. Say THE man
that Il gave coffee to when he was
ketched IL the man that's got me, an
he says Ill be well treated or his name
Amt Clay Hillyard.' That ought to make
'em feel easier to home. oughtn't itY
TN sure It would If they knew
you" said I. II wrote them long
letter after that scout in which you
were captured, about how you fixed
tried bacon and hoecake for US that
night and how you showed me how to
parch corn In bacon fat l 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
eos be.ng kind to her boy"
"6hol You git out! Is that SO,
thought said my particular Johnny,
With q aheepish look. "Well, mothers
h al alike, I s'pose." Then he and one
Of his party began to- prepare meal
" 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 to bring
our haversacks. 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 ag'in runnin' away, an they'll be
more comfortable"
The sergeant muttered assent. The
change was made, and then, as we sat
on long, low bench against one wall,
we were bountifully fed. We chatted
freely, our eaptors being quite willing
to converse. and the conversation ran
~ entirely to farming methods as If