Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-09
AS he breathed a long sigh OF content
he placed the canteen at his feet and

I'm glad to have been Of service,
said Brainard. My friend here helped
your friend there to a good drink Of
coffee about three months ago, and In
glad to be about even with him"
You're a gentleman. say it again
an I'll say it always"
Evidently whisky really was the
medicine he needed. for he began to be
quite happy. though quiet Then he
fixed his eye on something on the floor
He appeared to go into brown study
Finally he closed his eyes and loosened
his grasp on his gun. which fell softly
across his knees. looked toward
Brainard to wink. but to my horror
saw him loosening the strap at his feet
and motioning me to do likewise. Then
he rose softly. took the guards gun
handed 1t to me and proceeded to tie
the fellows feet.
Then understood what Charley was
up to. and. although was so frighten'
ed that | was afraid | would drop the
gun, | covered the sergeant and my
rebel friend with 1t. 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 I devoutly
prayed that the slumbers Of the re.
tumbent .Johnnies might continue to be
very sweet.
Meanwhile Brainard carefully un'
bound the two other men Of our own
party. 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
| tried. With the belts taken from our
boys Brainard softly bound, or hob
pled. the feet Of the sleeping graycoats'
Then he cut the sling strap from our
captains canteen and bound their
hands also. They became somewhat
restive under this operation. and the
sergeant suddenly opened his eyes
The fire that shot from those eyes
when the sergeant saw ME with bis
gun at q point made me tremble, and
when he strained at his bonds I 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 speechless. Per-
haps twas just as well. for | learned
afterward that he was 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. III 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,
III be -"
finally told him | hoped not, and 1t
wasn't his fault we had turned the
tables on him.
"Jest tell me how you done it all, ,"
said he. "an' won't ask no more"
1--WE didn't do it." said l, thinking to
get off q practical temperance lecture
that might he repeated after the war.
1--WE didn't do it; whisky did it." Then
nodded suggestively toward the
guard who had wanted medicine.
"Whisky?" exclaimed the questioner,
with 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 I
FASTENED to say:
81 didn't do it. never thought Of
the whisky. Twas given to me to use
in case we got soaking. 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: 1--WE got to
b'lieve you. do D'lieve you. But, say,
whar was you brung 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
starlight by Brainard and Confeder-
ate double barrcled gun.
Then we sat. or stood. on that river
bank until dawn began to break. Brain
ard having whispered to me that 1t
would not be safe to approach camp IN
the dark. We did not dare to make a
fire. and as we had not worn our over
coats when we started the morning be-
fore we were chilled to the bone. l sug-
gcstcd we should try to warm our
selves with single sips of the whisky, If
any was left. but Brainard objected.
saving it was no time for experiments.
AS for the .Iohnnies. they dropped upon
the ground and slept rs peacefully as If
nothing unusual had occurred.
At the first streak Of dawn Brainard
ordered the prisoners Into the boat.
two of them in the stern and one in the
bow. while he sat amidshipS and row.
cd first cautiOning our two boys to