The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-11

site side OF the creek but I never rus
tied blade of grass.
All the remainder OF the day I lay
in the grass, my wounded arm bleed
ing profusely and when the tide came
in was submerged in the water.
AS soon as the darkness came I,
with difficulty, got upon my feet, stiff,
sore and somewhat weak f.om loss
of blood, and would have been a
gcca Su5;3ot for u hospital and the
tendercst care, but alas! this was not
my fate.
In spite of my woeful plight, l was
as completely happy as mortal could
possibly be, and as onlya successful
venture where you have put your life
70 the stake and won could make a
boy of my age. The world opened
out before me with magnificent beauty
and grandeur, the air seemed invigo-
ration itself, and the whole earth g
perfect wilderness of sweets" And
yet, alas! | was perfectly aware that
many Of the greatest dangers threat
cned me, and that every step I made
might bring me into them.
Every bush was Yankee soldier
and no wild animal ever crouched and
peered through the darkness more
eagerly than I did. My burning de-.
sire was for gun or something with
which to defend myself or to sell my
life as dearly as possible. Ny former
experience had taught me that must
have assistance. The Potomac was
close to me and was anywhere from
fourteen to sixteen miles wide. Across
it lay sweet liberty and my great <le-
aire was to get across as quickly as
possible. I knew the people must be
Southern symps.hizers aud the s,oner
l found o friend the better. I knew
that my tender age, even with one
whe yes lukewaTm III the Southern
cause, might arouse pity and every
thing suggested that 1 find assistance.
The rick was immense. Suppose I
should meet an enemyf I cautiously
advanced through the woods and came
to model little path that looked to
me to be so full Of peace. I felt as
home in it at once and stood for some
time under the spell itosst upon me.
Then I ventured cautiously forward,
my arm being the only drawback to
my complete happiness. Then faint
spsrk Of light came to me. stood
still. Then ] orept cautiously for
ward. I soon came to a very modest
little cottage enveloped by g fence.
By slow degrees I reached the fence
and ventured to look into the room.
Three persons sat at table on
whiet blazed lamp. I sorutinized
eagerly the face of the old man and al
most screamed with its stern severity.
No smile had ever visited it and I
looked no more, but turned away.
Then I reflected Of everything and
thought if went away and looked up
someone else might have to arouse
them from sleep, aud that would make
them in bad humor, and they night
not be any better in physiognomy .hea
this one. :.
I returned and looked in the win
dow again. From the dismal face of
the old man I looked at the young
zaaa boy Of my own age, and then to
thu third, and never in my life had I
sem anything Sc Tadiaatiy beautiful.
The voice Of the old man came to me
and again turned away.
But summoniug ell my courage, I
returned and going up to che gate I
said:
.Heiioi'
Everything was quiet aud repeated
it.
who's there2 Come in came &c
me in @ growl.
please come to the gate and let me
speak to you
III you have anything to Say to me,
oome in or be Oft
1 went to the door: opened il
and stood in che door and told the old
man Of my escape from the prison, Of
my wound and wound up by an earnest
appeal to him to put me across the
Potomac.
Leave my house at once or I'll
blow out your brains,' said the stern
voice, and he shuffled around as
though to get gun.
I few from that place and when
some distance away sat down on the
side Of the path. The rudeness Of the
old mau surged up and wounded me