The National tribune., 1902-11-13

ing building than the usual mountain
home. There was porch along the en-
tire 'front.' and subdued light cleaned
from window near the steps which were
at the end of the porch. There was no
evidence of any one being astir within the
house, nor any indication of the presence
of ablebodied Federals. After making a
cautious reconnaissance we sneaked up to
| the steps and then made a rush for the
room whence came the glimmer of light.
There was no resistance, even the door be-
ing unlocked. Upon a rude, but not un-
comfortable pallet, lay two Federal SOL
diers, not seriously sick, but greatly sur
prised. They were recovering from an at
tack of measles, and had they suspected
the presence of Confederates in that Sec
tion they would have had themselves re-
moved to a place of greater security. They
were pleasant, philosophic fellows, smil-
| ingly and without needless protest accept
ing the situation.
THE SURPRIsERs ARE SUR
PRIsED.
While the Adjutant was going through
the formality of eXacting their paroles my
| comrade and l hastened to the primitive
stable, where we secured the two horses,
sorry specimens of equine flesh, the one
that fell to my lot being especially dis
appointing. When We returned to the
uOuSe we were cOIlTtHleu Oh lHe pOTci
by the "lord of the manor" his wife and
several daughters, whose greeting was by
no means cordial, the eldest girl, about 1S
years old, being especially sarcastic in her
remarks. The entire party were gifted
with speech that "fowed full and free"
We demanded supper, which they re-
luctantly and protestingly served in the
from the porch steps. Our party being
small and voraciously hungry, we station
ed no sentinel. l finished eating supper
sooner than the others. and Freeman then
suggested that l would better go out upon
the porch and "watch little bit out"
Picking up my carbina, / carelessly saun-
tered along the porch until came to the
steps. The unexpected then happened
Six stalwart forms arose from the
shadows at the base of the steps and ter
rorizingly cried: "Stand! you - Yankee!
Surrender" The clicking of revolvers was
| ominous, and their close proximity to my
head was demoralizingly uncomfortable
Trembling in my boots, / waveringly stam-
mered, "S-s-s-stand, your s-s-selves! I'm
n-n-nno Yankee" However, 1 instantly
realized that all parties were mistaken.
The enemy (D calling me c
Yankee" and a glimpse had of the uni
form of their enterprising young leader
| who rushed past me, going towards the
dining-room door, convinced me that the
| assaulting party were Confederates. Hav-
ing ingloriously surrendered, those pistols
at my head having persuasive effect,
yelled to the Adjutant and my comrade,
who had thrown themselves against the
door to let the fellows in: that they were
Confederates and all right. 1t was an
exceedingly awkward contretemps, requir-
ing several minutes in which to make
mutually satisfactory explanations, which,
when made, were very simple. The new
comers were members Of Fields Partisan
Rangers acting independently Of our bri-
gads, and strangers to US. While scout
Ing In that section they had learned of the
presence of the sick Federals, and had
come on a mission similar to ours. They
had arrived when we were eating supper.
The midnight illumination and the noise,
especially that made by the girls, very
naturally led them to suppose that party
Of Federal soldiers were making merry
within: 1 have never forgotten that Incl
dent-how awfully scared was when
| captured by my own men'-soldiers in
gray. Even now tremble, remembering
that some one Of those young fellows
might have nervously and inadvertently
pressed a trigger and ended my career in
the early days of my youth.
The Rangers" refused to be cOmforted
when they learned that we had already
visited the stable and that we claimed the
horses by right of prior discovery. How
ever, after they had seen and examined the
points" of the animals they were more
easily pacifed, ard even INDUCED in q
somewhat derisive laugh. Those exasper-
ating girls laughed also-laughed sardOni-
cally. When, like a gay cavalier, l had
mounted my Rosinante, preparatory to rid
ing forth into the deepening shadows Of
the night, touched his fistula-infected
shoulder, and surprisingly sensitive to the
gentle touch of my hand, he Immediately
sank to his knees. That eldest girl laugh
ed again-she was red-headed-and said:
mister, that hoss wants to pray" I
gave utterance to some sort Of profane
exclamation, and then the whole party,
Rangers included, INDUCED In more ex-
asperating Laughter and made supplement
tary hateful remarks. I walked back to
the camp Of "Mr. Marshall's critrerback
company"
Finally, . long way from Troublesome,
! secured an excellent horse and rode with
Mr.. Marshall" back to old Virginia.